I knew at the outset of this project in April of 2011 that its success would ultimately depend on a team effort. My instincts proved right, and it is for this reason that I have great appreciation and gratitude for my family, friends, and colleagues who have made a contribution. I have many of you to thank for your substantive suggestions and ideas. But equally important and meaningful are those of you whose contribution was non-substantive.
I begin first with my two greatest loves of all time, my children, Meriah and Nathan, without whom I never would have experienced and understood what it means to love unconditionally, or been able to fully grasp the meaning of loss.
My biggest thank-you of all goes out to my two brothers, Darryl and Dennis, who have made such an incredible difference in my life and have been an enduring pillar of support, strength, and wisdom every step of the way.
I offer my sincerest appreciation and gratitude for my lifelong friends, Jeff and Liz Kramer, for their love, generosity, support, and kindness, and a special thank-you to my longtime friend Jeff Lerman.
I would like to deeply thank my good friends, Drs. John Milliman and Mark Weisberg, for your long-term friendship, insights, laughs, and our journeys in nature.
I feel enormous appreciation for the contribution of my writing partner, Kristin Loberg. Kristin, you have truly put your heart and soul into this project, and have been instrumental on so many levels. In the early stages of this project it was truly a labor of love, where at times it felt as if we were lost and wandering in the desert, with no certainty of finding a homeland. Yet your commitment was unshakable. Your writing skills, intelligence, patience, passion, warm heart, positive attitude, and very importantly, your friendship, have been invaluable in refining my message and creating this book. I can’t imagine having done this without you.
I truly owe the existence of this book to my literary agent, Bonnie Solow. Bonnie, this never would have happened if you had not persuasively reached out to me. Thank you for finding a book in me that I didn’t know existed, and for all your edits, input, vision, and for skillfully shepherding this book to fruition. Without you I never would have set foot on a path that opened up so many doors for emotional and intellectual growth and solace.
I would also like to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of my editor, Meghan Stevenson, who brought so much zest, spirit, and personal interest in this project. Your edits and suggestions have had a very significant and positive impact on this book’s readability, organization, and message. Please accept an additional thank-you for your generosity in granting me so much editorial freedom.
My acknowledgments would not be complete without extending a very big thank-you to Caroline Sutton; without her, this project would never have happened at Hudson Street. Thank you for your swift acceptance and welcome into the Penguin Hudson Street family, and for believing in a body of work that was still yet to be fleshed out and refined.
I also would like to offer a thank-you to Kym Surridge, Penguin’s copy editor, who was simply amazing and brilliant in making critical edits and tightening up this manuscript. And to Brittney Ross, who helped carry this book through its final phase of production.
Finally, I would like to thank you, the reader, for taking an interest in my work and life passion. I truly hope it provides you with opportunities for new growth and solace, much in the same way as it has for me through the years.