Writing this book has been a wonderful experience. I’ve learned and grown so much that I now realized how little we know of ourselves and others. Life literally begins at birth; however, we don’t fully start understanding it all until later on in life. This is when the life experiences, wisdom, humility, and all those wonderful qualities that we had to grow into. Often we act as if we know everything our neighbors, spouses, friends, even family. What we see on the news, the FDA, and our government, let me say this! Don’t be surprised. I’ve been an occupational health specialist (OHS) for the past eighteen years, and the first ten years my job entailed extensive travel cross country 75 percent of the time. I practically live out of my suitcase. Needless to say, when I worked in New Orleans, I ate all the Cajun and Creole food that I can muster. When in Kansas City, barbecue (Gates), and when in Los Angeles, I would eat burritos for breakfast. Well, you get the picture. Every state had its specialty, and I made sure that I indulged, resulting in weight gain in all the wrong places. So I joined a gym. Okay, I got fit, but being fit and healthy are two totally different categories, so I went through a series of events that led me to the forefront of health and fitness. The birth of my son at age forty-three was the biggest reason for the one-eihgty-degree turnaround. I wanted to be there for my son and his future hopefully to see him finish college, living a healthy, productive, joyful, successful, and eventually married with children my grand children God willing. And just as importantly I wanted my health to be optimal so that I could spend quality time with him, that’s when I became more knowledgeable about food, nutrition, and the effects that it has on your mind, body, and soul, becoming more of a label reader cutting back on process, fast food, sodium, sugar, etc. and a affects has been astonishing. In my fiftiess my physique and knowledge has become an inspiration to those young and older, I’ve become an excellent swimmer, conquer stone mountain up and around countless times, body building competition, personal trainer, yoga, boot camp, meditation, even becoming an author, and it seems as if I’m just beginning at the right age of fifty-eight, or fifty fine. I am no different from you! I just happen to write this book, so can you! Or what ever it is that your heart desires. If you stop and think about it, we are all insignificant in the grand scheme of things, however it’s the deeds that we do, helping without harming is what makes us significant. “If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up” Booker T. Washington 1836
