The single most impacting factor in our lives is our state of mind and the resulting emotions these states create. Everything we do, the frame of mind we are in, and the subsequent thought processing these states create, govern our overall life experience. Even when we are in the midst of the worst experience of our life, it is our state of mind that dictates whether we respond with courage and with the will to survive or we end up instead feeling terrorized, demoralized and defeated. The same is true for the favorable times in our lives that often pass right by us without recognition. We get so preoccupied with the vision of obtainment and with the fulfillment of all our needs that we seemingly forget all about what we already have acquired and can enjoy. There is a sick, self-defeating logic to this as we keep collecting and collecting and never really enjoy life. Often we fail to realize that life experience is one of the greatest assets we collect as we move through our lives. Awareness and the notion of being more mindfully present in our day-to-day lives is much of what this book is about. How do we frame everyday life, and why do we find ourselves sometimes happy and sometimes sad? Take the journey with me and see how much more aware you can be and what that can mean for your happiness, your life and all those that are a part of your life! By day I manage information systems development and technology.  I truly enjoy breaking apart problems and developing solutions for customers in my work. I also thrive off of interacting with others both in my work and in my personal life.   These days I enjoy time with my family, just living and experiencing life.  I feel fortunate to have found the woman of my dreams and for all the wonderment and love of the four girls she brought with her into my life.   I once dabbled as a part-time photographer, graphic designer and website designer.  I have provided all the photography and graphics in this book. As a former member of the Professional Photographers of America, I obtained a few awards for images I submitted in international print competitions.  You can see some of my other work in the film Last Breath (2010) where I shot some of the stills and the photography for the family pictures in the house.   I once fell head over heels for astronomy and discovered and named a few asteroids.  During those nights, I also helped professional astronomers around the world by building a remote controlled observatory in my backyard, where I discovered asteroids and completed follow up work for the Harvard Minor Planet Center.   A Mind For Life is my first book and, true to my nature, I established a website where you can visit, find other works and information about me and join in the discussion.   Placing all the fun and cool things in my life aside, writing this book has been the best achievement of my life.  While some of the things I've mentioned may sound like significant accomplishments, the most important thing about them is how they shaped and changed the way I see life.   In my humble opinion, the accolades themselves don't offer much in the bigger picture.  It's my hope that this is what you take away most about me, the author!