it's not always easy, but it's always great...

I think it is part of my mission as a 4-time loser and life-long knucklehead who's learned how to learn (and therefore, how to live) that I try to help others do the same. My life rocks. Every day! I do something simple, but oh-so-challenging--you guessed it, I make killer bread--and yet what I do affects (dare I say) thousands of people, in a good way!

I don't think this is quite what I expected would happen when I was released back into society 25 months ago. I think I thought it would be easier. I knew I would create some good things(I hadn't been baking in prison all those years, but I had learned some great lessons about the creative process) but I had no idea what, just how. I knew I wasn't going to fail because for me, there was no such thing. (I cannot tell you how blessed I was to reach bottom and hang out there for as long as I did. The worst day I've had in the past 25 months is nirvana compared to the many, many bad days that came before.)

I really didn't expect some of the battles I've had since I got out of there. I thought I had learned the lesson of humility and could swallow my pride in any situation and let reason and truth rule. I had found a path in prison--a very lonely path--which had given me incredible strength and courage. Now I see that these things didn't prepare me to avoid fights, but gave me the tools to survive them and come out a better person.

In some ways it's been hard, yes. But the rewards are really the stuff of dreams. Every day, I get sincere and meaningful praise. People love me for what I do.

So how do I plan to help others find the way? Well, probably not by giving speeches...at least, not yet. My life is exceedingly full, bro. I don't have the time to prepare for public speaking. I think I will help others by just keeping on this path, and telling people about it. The word will get to those who are willing and ready.

Remember, I had to scrape bottom for a long, long time before I found my way. Others who are like me will have to find their own bottom, then maybe I can help them. By example.

(Photo #1 Amy Troy doing a story for Channel 8 News in late 2005. Photo#2 Shobi with Tessa in a recent shot. Photo #3 Dick Shymanski--Naturebake and DKB Sales Boss. he mean-mugged the first shot I took. this one shows the real Dick.)