Both of my grandfathers were coal miners in West Virginia. My father was one of nine children, and “doing without” was simply a part of life. Growing up in a coal-mining town wasn’t easy, and when my father graduated from high school, he weighed only 118 pounds—something that made life especially challenging. Yet instead of letting it hold him back, his physical stature fueled his determination to pursue a better life.

My mother also faced her share of hardships. She lost her father at a young age and was abandoned by her mother. Even though she had extended family, there was a time when she had to live with her third-grade teacher.

Both of my parents endured difficult upbringings. They had every reason to grow bitter or angry, or to choose a darker path. But they didn’t. Instead, they discovered that the true key to happiness is giving of oneself to others without expectation.

I witnessed them live this value every day—in the way they treated others and in the way they raised me. That example shaped who I am and continues to guide me. 

My personal mantra, inspired by Ricky Gervais, is this: “Kindness is the only thing that brings happiness in life—whether you are the giver or the receiver.”