To discover the story the world had to tell. To share the story within me.

As an intuitor, I invest a disproportionate amount of my time with introspection.

I grew weary of reading sports writers describe Wake Forest football as "the worst in America." I understood they were taking the easy way out - borrowing yesterday's boilerplate to avoid investing the effort to construct an original, accurate account. But, for decades, I had watched the games. Year after year, I witnessed student-athletes play better than their best, give everything within them to honor Wake Forest. I understood how painful it must be for 18-20 year old men to hear again and again they were "...a team only a coach could love." I had no doubt the thoughtless, derisive comments made by sports writers seeped into the psyche of those young men and became but one more of the adverse, mitigating factors they had to overcome. I felt a need to reveal the truth of the indomitable spirit I witnessed, that inspired Wake Forest to dare to lead.

I remember very well. I was a Wake Forest junior. I skipped my German Lit final exam, scheduled an appointment with my professor to make amends, and brought my story to excuse my absence. Entitled "Three" it was a love story. My professor did not require me to take the exam. I expected to receive an "F" for the course. He gifted me with an "A." It was one of the most powerful messages of encouragement I'd ever received. I understood he was telling me if I could get my act together, I'd surprise myself with what I could achieve.

It begins with procrastination. I procrastinate and introspect until I'm compelled to end the conflict within my mind by writing key words or phrases, drafting an outline or, often enough, just releasing a first draft.

While a junior in high school I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club. Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle arrived one day as the selection of the month. I read it cover to cover in one sitting. I turned it over and over in my mind for years as I read everything I could find he had written. I read every critique of his work then available. I dared to draft my own critique of his then published work, tracked his mailing address, and sent it to him. A week later I received his reply. So generous in his "critique" of my work, I was inspired he valued what I had written. His words remain my motivation regardless of the obstacles.