Life passions have lessons one never could have predicted or envisioned. In this book, author Richard Strozzi-Heckler shares his experiences in martial arts, through apprenticeships with masterful instructors; his experiences and insights from meditation practice, facing parental trauma; and his struggle to become emotionally literate — mind you, he’s a doctor of psychology. Through recounting these stories over decades: he looks at transformative moments of many different processes and efforts that shaped his life. He organizes the book through questions that he’s faced and answers them through memories of reflection and inquiry — starting with learning about impermanence and an early experience with death. Moreover, beyond learning, he touches on themes of vulnerability and making community, the value of mentorship and more embodied in his spiritual path. (This book may contain a sharpie mark on the top or bottom edge and may show mild signs of shelfwear.)