In such a high tech & noisy world it can be nearly impossible to find a moment of clarity. It can be miraculous to find that solitary instant that humanity intersects the common good.

Common good. Almost seems like a lost art, doesn't it? Some days it can feel as if it were nothing more than a pre-historic value of which people of years past lived their lives. Some places can cause us to feel that humanity has lost interest in helping others. In most places that you look, its simply every man for himself. In even one of our most sacred institutions, government has completely forgotten and lost sight that more than just rich people live in this land.

I was educated by the system. I learned the value and power of thinking solely for myself. I have worked jobs & served in positions that called me to interact with people only for my own gain. I earned lots of money and gained lots of attention that way. After having spent all this energy to acquire these things though, I was lonely. I couldn't sleep. I became my own existence that became lost in the sea of uninspiring & powerless men. I recognized this and became frustrated. I was angry. I was not happy with myself.

Time eventually taught me that happiness is an incredibly complex subject. It is forever changing & evolving. It is never static or fully defined. I wanted to achieve happiness so much that I began to study it with fierce passion. I read philosophy. I studied happy people. I became an expert at observation. What I noticed was that happiness isn't a final destination. Happiness, instead, is an investment that carries a promise of future wellness. Happy people were the ones who selflessly invested their time & talents to others with the simple expectation that it made a difference. In return they received esteem, respect, and compassion. These values are not new to me though...I learned these things from my parents as a child.

Then it hit me: the fundamental source of esteem, health, and wellness comes from the opportunities & love from a healthy family. Families are the key to healthy & happy adults. In my experience in the Pennsylvania Social Service System I have observed many unhealthy families. Even though their circumstances may be painfully different, these families share one thing: they are not achieving their maximum potential in terms of wellness, personal satisfaction, and ultimately, happiness.

I believe that healthy families can still exist. I believe they do exist. And I believe any family is capable of achieving well-being. Healthy families can work magic in our society. They can lower crime. They can improve education. They can increase productivity. They can decrease health care costs. They can reform & they can inspire. That's what calls me in. That's what guides my path. Together we can change the world. Together we can do this.