To my best friend, Sharon. Words cannot adequately express all that you’ve given me. You’ve been everything. Saying “This wouldn’t have been possible without you” is an understatement. Thanks, buddy.
Thank you to Robin and Warren, our dynamic “god parents,” who provided us with amazing guidance and their ridiculous wealth of knowledge.
To my mother, who instilled in me a love of reading that benefits me every single day. I don’t know how you got us through it all. To my loving sister, for always being there. To my brother: the bond we’ve shared since we were kids will be with me forever. You are the coolest person I know.
Thank you to Frank, Vera, and Frankie.
Thank you to my dear friends in Pittsburgh—Holly and Doug, Mike and Chad, Mark and Tracy, Mike and Betsy, Jeff, Kate, Kaitlin and Alisa, Knut, Cathy and Colin, and Mike and Jules, for your amazing support, and for making me realize how big my family really is. Go Steelers!
Thanks to my Philly friends—Jasmine, and my oldest friends Orlando, Jose, and Suboh. Bill and Cathy for having my back, Special Agent JJ, Alexander and Fin (even though you’re Flyers fans), JDKC, Laura V, Marilyn and Elaine, Rabbi Mike, Alex, Rabbi Elliott S., Dave, Pastor Scott H., Brian, Lisa, Pod, DC Jenny, Colleen and Michael, Bob, Heather and Bill, and to Charlie, who always said I needed to do a TED Talk.
I would like to convey my gratefulness to those who supported me throughout my journey: Emily, Sarah, Martina, Jesse, Kathleen, Barbara, Danielle, Marianne, Masa, Todd, Mary Lowell, Michael, Troy and Abed, and to the many people not mentioned who gave me strength and courage along the way.
An enormous thank-you to Jeff Giles. You have been a pleasure to work with, and I’m so thankful for your help with crafting my thoughts into a coherent format. I would like to express special gratitude to Michelle Quint for her positive energy and editorial expertise. My deepest thanks and appreciation to Deron, Alex, June, Ellyn, and everyone at TED for believing in my message. Much appreciation to Carla Sacks for her guidance. Finally, I am very grateful to Chris Anderson for believing that I would not crumble under the pressure of opening for Bill Gates and Sting.
Thank you all.