Step Off!

1“Well…How Did I Get Here?”

“Where we've been is just as important as where we want to go.”

Looking back at my life thus far, I have a rather simplistic view of myself. I'm just an average guy who always tried to do what was right and along the way was fortunate enough to live out a dream. But even now, with every new day that dawns, I'm trying to the best of my abilities to navigate this journey for myself and my family. As everyone knows, deep down inside, this shit ain't easy. If you look at people's Instagram pages, though, apparently it's a damn piece of cake. The problem is, I don't eat cake, and (as I think most of us are), I'm just trying to figure it all out as I go along. That being said, here's a brief peek at a few verbal polaroids from my childhood to help you, and me, better understand the Dan that sits here today writing this book.

Meet the Parents

You can't achieve too much success in life without some type of positive foundation. Therefore, meet my positive foundation, my parents Vince and Mary Lou, college sweethearts who have now been happily married for 63 years and are still going strong (Figure 1.1). They've always shown love and respect for each other. Even to this day, any time the song “Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel” by Tavaras comes on, they will bust some sick, impromptu dance moves. Not sure why, but my brain loves the random memory of them going all Dancing with the Stars in our living room to that jam.

FIGURE 1.1 My parents, the real MVPs! ...