What I Wish I Had Known

"What I wish I had known" We’re living the good life. What went wrong? When, and why? I'll keep searching for the answers, striving to help others, avoid the same gut-wrenching tragedy. Michael, my son and overachiever, was a scholar and an outstanding athlete, drawn to the military early on. Despite his sturdy outer-shell, Michael was gentle. His senior year, he'd coax me into signing parental consent to enlist; at seventeen. I recall crying! Michael chuckled, not mocking me, making light of his choice… Thanks, mom, don't worry about me. I'm not going to war. I'm not going to die. I'm just going into the Marine Corps. My terrible premonition evolved on September 11, 2001. Michael’s training just ended for Air Crew-Chief. He was assigned to the massive CH-53 Super Stallion Transporting-Helicopter. What I wish I had known… was that a helicopter crashed in Western Iraq and Michael (the air crew chief) wrote the ill-fated flight schedule, killing thirty-one men. He swapped out a more experienced crew member for a rookie. This story exams the psychological injuries my son sustained during his military service-the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) signs he was in severe distress. Veterans (like Michael) pride themselves in strength. Traumatic events can undermine their power-the ability to avoid dealing with emotions in the face of danger. Once emotions are buried, some veterans and first responders continue internalizing mental anguish instead of reaching out for help. Shockwaves spread-wide Michael’s in his prime, survived war, earned a master’s degree and in love, engaged. I’m stunned, why? Twenty-two veterans die by suicide daily, it’s a long-lasting statistic. Twenty-two but not you-not my Michael! I’d bet my life and savings on that! Mental fog set in, this time I reached out to Michael’s trusted friends (Korah Hoffman LMSW/MPA) and Erik Fries USMC Air Crew Chief/Brother in arms. Erik exposed me to the harsh reality of war. Korah shared her personal and professional struggle with Michael’s silent battle. If death wasn’t devastating enough, I’d breakdown at Mass, when our Catholic priest uttered “Suicides are damned to hell"" his words echoed from the pulpit! Tormented, I'll seek a medium. Naturally, I wanted to check in on my son. What I experienced was a life-changing revelation.

'A superb study ... brilliant stories, hilarious observations and jaw dropping revelations about so many figures in public life we thought we knew - but never understood' EMILY MAITLIS Loss and adversity are part of the human condition, but an imperfect past isn't always an indicator of what's to come. This book traces a pattern: why is it that often the people with the hardest beginnings in life - children who experience displacement, disease, financial ruin, abandonment or bereavement - become the most successful adults? And is there something to learn from those people, who perhaps have the strongest sense of what matters most? Of Britain's fifty-five prime ministers, twenty-five lost one or both of their parents as a child and 69 per cent suffered some form of serious childhood trauma. For their acclaimed podcast Past Imperfect, Thomson and Sylvester spoke to some such prime ministers, as well as pioneers and poets, CEOs and chefs, actors and archbishops, sports stars and Nobel prize-winning scientists. How did Richard Branson overcome severe dyslexia? How did Daphne Park, born in lonely, rural Tanzania, become one of Britain's top spies? How was diver Tom Daley driven on to win an Olympic gold medal by being bullied at school and his father's early death? This book brings together psychological research with scores of intimate, fascinating interviews. The resulting narrative is full of hope, and might help us all towards a better understanding of resilience, motivation, perspective and courage.

OVER 500,000 COPIES SOLD! “Most people spend far more time in preparation for their vocation than they do in preparation for marriage.” With more than 45 years of experience counseling couples, Gary has found that most marriages suffer due to a lack of preparation and a failure to learn to work together as intimate teammates. So he put together this practical little book, packed with wisdom and tips that will help many develop the loving, supportive, and mutually beneficial marriage they envision, such as: What the adequate foundation for a successful marriage truly is What to expect about the roles and influence of extended family How to solve disagreements without arguing How to talk through issues like money, sex, chores, and more Why couples must learn how to apologize and forgive Ideal for newly married couples and those considering marriage, the material lends itself to heart-felt, revealing, and critical conversations for relational success. Read this bookand you’ll be prepared for—not surprised by—the challenges of marriage. - Bonus features include: Book suggestions and an interactive websites to enhance the couples’ experience “Talking it Over” questions and suggestions to jumpstart conversations over each chapter Appendix on healthy dating relationships and an accompanying learning exercise

THE PERFECT GIFT FOR MOTHER'S DAY! Look at the front cover of any parenting book and what do you see? Glowing mothers-to-be, or pristine, beautifully-behaved children. But the reality is, your pregnancy might be a sweaty, moody rollercoaster, and your children will almost certainly spend the first few years of their lives covered in food, tears and worse. And the experience is no less magical for it. In this no-holds-barred collection of essays, prominent women authors, journalists and TV personalities explore the truth about becoming mothers. Covering topics from labour to the breastapo, twins to IVF, weaning to post-birth sex, and with writers including Cathy Kelly, Adele Parks, Kathy Lette and Lucy Porter (and many more), Things I Wish I'd Known is a reassuring, moving and often hilarious collection that will speak to mothers - and mothers-to-be - everywhere.

A revised and updated edition of the international bestseller Inspiring readers all over the globe to reimagine their future, this revised and updated edition of What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 features new material to complement the classic text. Major life transitions such as leaving the protected environment of school or starting a new career can be daunting. It is scary to face a wall of choices, knowing that no one is going to tell us if we make the right decision. There is no clearly delineated path or recipe for success. Even figuring out how and where to start can be a challenge. As head of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, Tina Seelig’s job is to guide her students as they make the difficult transition from the academic environment to the professional world—providing tangible skills and insights that will last a lifetime. Seelig is a wildly popular and award-winning teacher and in What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20 she shares with us what she offers her students –provocative stories, inspiring advice, and a big dose of humility and humor. These pages are filled with captivating examples, from the classroom to the boardroom, of individuals defying expectations, challenging assumptions, and achieving unprecedented success. Seelig throws out the old rules and provides a new model for reaching our potential. We discover how to have a healthy disregard for the impossible; how to recover from failure; and how most problems are remarkable opportunities in disguise. What I Wish I Knew When I Was Twenty is a much-needed book for everyone looking to make their mark in the world.

In this closing book of the Horse Dreams trilogy, soul-searching Indiana schoolteacher Develyn Worrell has finally found her groove. Ready to savor the end of summer in a small Wyoming town she once visited as a child, she settles in for a time of peace and contentment. That is, until her daughter pays a visit, an eclectic friend plans to marry, a suspicious stranger enters the picture, and a dear mentor suffers a heart attack.Such confusion would be overwhelming, except for the steady friendship of Cooper Tallon. He may lack the charm and flash of other cowboys, but always seems to have just what Develyn's heart needs. And with her trust in the Lord still growing, she looks forward to whatever follows.

Broadcast journalist Maria Shriver reveals the lessons that have guided her journey as a career woman, wife, and mother. Expanded from her highly praised commencement address and best-selling book, this Little Book offers wise and wonderful advice.This Little Book has been adapted from Ten Things I Wish I'd Known-Before I Went Out into the Real World by Maria Shriver, published by Warner Books, Inc., and is published by arrangement with Warner Books. All rights reserved.

'SUCH AN IMPORTANT BOOK... ESSENTIAL READING FOR PARENTS' Gabby Logan 'INCREDIBLY POWERFUL... A MUST-READ' Victoria Derbyshire When Dan died, I realised many things. I realised drugs were closer to our door than I'd thought. I realised drugs have become normalised for young people. I realised drugs are more affordable, accessible and available than ever before. And I realised I didn't know enough, and nor did Dan, to navigate the choices and come back alive. When Daniel Spargo-Mabbs was 16, he went to a party and never came home. The party was an illegal rave and Daniel - bright, popular, big-hearted prom king Dan - died from a fatally strong overdose of MDMA. In the seven years since, the range of substances has become wider, the levels of exposure higher, and the threat to young people's physical and mental health from drugs greater than ever before. Despite this, there is almost no guidance for parents to help their children navigate this perilous landscape and to stay safe. To come home at night. To grow up. This book is everything Fiona Spargo-Mabbs wishes she'd known, everything she wishes she'd done, before she lost her son. Because however you parent, and whatever you do, at some point your child is likely to be in a situation where they have to make a decision about drugs. What if that decision is 'yes'? Do they know what the risks are? Do they have strategies they can bring to bear if things go wrong? I Wish I'd Known interweaves the story of one family's terrible loss with calm, measured and practical advice for parents. It explores the risks posed by illegal drugs, and explains the way the adolescent brain makes decisions. There is practical advice for saying safe, information on reducing harm, and 'talking points' for parents and their children to do, talk about, look at, look up or consider. A life lost to drugs is a loss like no other. Throughout the book, Daniel's story - his life, his death and what happened afterwards - not only provides a compelling reminder of the importance of those conversations, but also serves as an unforgettable eulogy to a son, brother, boyfriend and friend whose legacy continues to touch, and perhaps even save, the lives of other young people.