Lauren Ann Schieffer - Road Signs on the High Road of Life

On December 30, 2006, I lost one of the driving forces in my life my dad. My father's death wasn't sudden as his health had been failing for some time. During the last six months of his life, I began to write his eulogy in anticipation of the day I would stand in front of other people who loved him, to honor his memory. What could I say about this 66 powerhouse of a man who was very human, very flawed, and yet still hung the sun and the moon for me? I began to think about everything my dad, The Colonel, had taught me. I don't necessarily mean the academia or book smarts he offered. All of Dad's engineering wisdom and academic excellence went to my sister, who is brilliant. I was thinking more of the life lessons he instilled in me throughout my life those lessons I find myself consistently imparting to my own children. That was the theme of my eulogy for my father, which became the seed of this book.

As the idea for the book continued to germinate, I realized I wanted to share more than just what The Colonel had given me. I also learned a great deal as I held my mother's hand through her battle with, and recovery from, alcoholism. My sister and I battled and recovered from eating disorders, and I survived the emotional and physical pains of assault. Other life lessons came from years inside the pink bubble of Mary Kay Cosmetics and the incredible, gracious lady herself, Mary Kay Ash. Some of my most valuable life lessons have come from my husband, Ron.

I was well on my way to writing this book when I became stalled. A little background I am a tremendous fan of Good Morning America almost to an obsessive level. I watched the inaugural episode and have watched just about every morning since then. Most recently, I have built a profound admiration for co-anchor Robin Roberts. We are about the same age, have similar military backgrounds, values and outlooks on life. In addition, we both lost our dads at about the same moment in our lives. I have come to believe she is a soul sister who has just never met me. I'll fix that some day! Anyway, she had just published her book, From the Heart, Seven Rules to Live By. I bought it the day it became available and read it cover to cover that day. It was wonderful, but it also discouraged me. I thought, Well, there it is. That is your book. It has been done well by someone else a celebrity no less so there is no need for you to keep writing yours. I stopped the project all together.

I realize now I was wrong to stop. Everyone's life lessons are unique and touch different people for different reasons. A pool of wisdom is a valuable thing. So I listened to my family and others close to me, and I finished my book. I hope you find it as valuable to read as I did to write.