Dedication

To my loving family, thank you for the steady support that helped carry this work. To the memory of Donna McCarron, your wisdom and love still guide me. To my last partner, thank you for the hard lessons that pushed real growth in me. To my partner, Rachel Stidham, thank you for standing firm through trials. To Emily Hoeh, thank you for being part of my life from the beginning.

To my friends, therapist, military comrades, colleagues, and to you, the reader, thank you for walking through these pages with me. I offer this book to all of you with gratitude and love.