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I met a man in 1987 his name is Issac Slaughter a psychiatrist who volunteered his time to help countless others. A man who I would come to know as the true definition of the word hero.

He ran several groups of therapy for life term inmates at The California Medical Facility in Vacaville, Ca. This man was so good at everything he touched. Most sessions, we were not aware of his presence in the room until he would say something so profound, you could feel the growth, the self confidence stirring inside. I realized years later how much this man would change my life. He would open the door for me to become the person I am today. From this point I would walk through many doors to meet other people who would give me yet another piece of my life experience which I will always carry with me. Their names and titles I will speak of later as each person is unique, so is each story linking myself to each of them.

Doctor Slaughter, would tell me one day a story about a tribe of African Zulu Warriors, who before going into battle would paint their weakest warriors in the brightest colors possible so they had nothing to hide from their enemy. Or maybe even more important, nothing to hide from themselves. A sort of a cleansing method of mind body and soul that would prove to be successful, for the tribe as they would fight each battle with a clear conscience.

It takes time, energy, and effort to conceal or hide yourself from the truth or from who you

are.

I did not grasp this concept over night. In fact it took me a long time to understand this story, as I still struggled to come to some conclusions about myself which of course I did not want to admit to . It would be a long while before I would be able to truly face my own weaknesses, throw them onto a table, really dive in and look at each flaw about myself, then paint it the brightest color, talk about it and then I began to experience some freedom from within myself.

Not altogether sure how,or where to start this story? I'll try with the present, then work my way backward. I will be truthful with what I write, as this is from my own life experience.

I tell my daughter all the time,"if anyone ever asks, you who you are?" Say you are a culmination of your life experience. That's who we are. I am a product of my environment, shaped, molded influenced, and inspired , saddened, angered, even an early enraged hatred toward those who would assert, then abuse power.

I did however say ,that I would start with the present. Today, I am humbled by all of my life's experience, so fortunate to have met so many incredible human beings. So very blessed to have my wife, next to me this very moment. Our daughter Amanda in the next room.I love them both so very much.