In hindsight, the worst years of my life were actually amazing. In early 2002, my wife walked out — a true blessing. We had embraced the American Dream, all funded with crushing debt.

Since my life was thrown up in the air, I decided to really shake things up. I quit my job and stayed home with my 3-year-old son.

We stayed up late reading stories, watching movies, and eating popsicles in bed. We would swim, take long walks, build blanket forts, and play Mario Kart. This time spent with my son is worth more to me now than any missed income or “career” progression.