• My always loving and supportive husband, David Alexander.

• My brilliant and skillful agent, Anne Sibbald.

• Joel Fotinos and Sarah Litt of Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin for endless support and patience with all of my questions.

• My closest Buddhist teachers with whom I have studied—His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sogal Rinpoche, Thich Nhat Hanh, Lama Chonam, Sangye Kandro and Robert Thurman, and the various Buddhist nuns and monks who have paused briefly on my path.

• My spiritual sojourner, Reverend Linda Spencer.

• The fellow Unity ministers with whom I walk—Reverends Sandra Hymel, Stan and Barbara Smith, Ric Schmacher, Joann Landreth, Suzanne Stover and Ron Stover.

• My precious lifelong friends Susan Miller Schwabe, Nancy Miller, Courtney Lang, Dr. Minner Bowers, Dr. Ileana Pina, Adrienne Gerspacher, Barbara Hill, Bob Javorski, Dr. Keith Jordan, John Broad, Ronn Liller, Karen Karsh, Peter Clancy, Dr. Jacqueline Rogers and Sandy Deck.

• My departed friend Georgia Drakes, who first introduced me to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

• My family—my mom, who I am so grateful is still with us; my brother Jim and his wife, Vicki; Grady and his family; Sabrina and her family; and my precious and loving stepdaughters, Robyn, Lisa, and Julie and their families.

• My staff members, who are more like family than staff: Felicia Martinez, her three daughters, and Rudi Barnes.

• Last, but far from least, our three precious four-legged “daughters”—transplanted Hawaii kitty Petite Noir and Yorkies Honey and Tara, each of whom brings joy to every day we share.