Sober 16 years since 9/27/2000, raised in Torrance, CA, Owen was the 6th of 8 children in a very successful family. His older sister graduated valedictorian at age 15 and entered medical school at 18. His dad was an aerospace engineer. It was a tough standard to live up to.
Drinking became a way of escape, one time with near death consequences for a close friend.
He managed, despite drinking, on the second attempt at college to get a science degree in psychology.
He got married and moved with his wife to Tyler, TX. He promised to quit on his own or go to AA. He white-knuckled it for a time then relapsed on a trip back to Torrance.
He reluctantly agreed to fulfill his promise. He has not consumed alcohol since his first meeting.
He shares how he went from an unemployed graduate in Tyler, TX to a ladies' shoes salesman at Dillards to an office job at a fajita manufacturing company to teaching 7th grade in the inner-city in Tyler to teaching 4th grade at a private school in Georgia to his current new role as an author and teacher.
He has become somewhat of an authority on gratitude keeping a list, adding 5 items everyday for over 13 years with one rule - no repeats.