To have the American dream or to understand the American spirit is to understand that it is not a golden ticket you acquire because of your color, race, or financial status. It is not because there is a secret that only certain people know to obtain happiness and success. It is not one specific type of story. My story is like millions of others out there. It is not special. It is not glorious. It is not filled with luck and handouts or a million dollars. It is a story of truth in finding joy and satisfaction in being all that you can be. This is a story about being resilient and having faith and in being able to stand and thrive and be successfully happy with what you are given. This book is about how to overcome the anti-American spirit of victimization and entitlement and let the American spirit rise in you and fight the good fight, fight for your life, your future, your dreams, and your success, and in doing so, the American spirit lives, and the American dream is achieved.