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My Journey.

Come back with me to 10 years old. My dad says with tears in his eyes, “Grandpa just passed away." It’s a normal thing but such a shock to me that I subconsciously decide, I’m going to discover the meaning of life, and become an overachiever trying to do so.

Fast forward to chiropractic college graduation. There’s a special announcement: "Dr. Rich Parenti is graduating with Cum Laude Honors today!" It wasn’t printed in the program. People cheer and I stand to take it all in with a big smile thinking, “I’ve got it!” Life is about great accomplishments and big things.

I grow a successful career, live in a big house, and drive expensive cars, but my life is falling apart. Something’s missing. I have four kids and I'm getting divorced for the third time! I lose the money, my home, the cars, and my kids. I’m financially and emotionally bankrupt.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

Maybe I need to follow my dreams. I've always wanted to be a teacher and help kids. It’s less money but money doesn’t make you happy.

So, two more years of school and a post-baccalaureate in Education with a teaching license and I'm a High School Science Teacher.

It’s great until that feeling of 'something’s missing' returns. I advance to teach teachers. I become a college instructor, director of Education, college Dean. I make it to the top position, Campus Director. And then I'm fired. Ten more years gone and I still don't understand life any more than when I was ten years old. I believe I’m a failure.

Then I meet Sharon, an owner of a child care center who is surrounded by many people who care about her. Client families love her. Employees stay with her. She has great friends and a close family. How? Because she knows that the meaning of life is found in the relationships we have. All of the things I've ignored, she has nurtured her whole life. As soon as I started paying attention to the people in my life, my life changed like never before. My clients are like family and friends. My family is closer than I ever imagined. And it doesn’t matter what I do for work. That was never the answer.

Now I’m with Sharon. Forever. She’s my hero!
Today, in everything I do, it’s to build a good relationship because that’s what life is about.