Everyone has a story. It usually begins when you start to notice that something is missing in your life and you are not sure what it is. We all have a yearning that calls us. Throughout his life, Mark has always made a practice of taking a leap of faith whenever he heard the call for something more.
There is a point in everyone’s life when you either stay in the boat or make a leap into the river of life. When Mark was twelve years old, he made his first leap. On a river rafting trip on the Green River in Colorado, he literally got out of the boat and swam alongside the raft only to be swept through the rapids. This was the first of many experiences in which he experienced life as an exciting
journey of discovery.
Mark was raised with the idea that it was one’s responsibility to make the world a better place. For him, the practice of law was a way to right the wrongs of society. Against the advice of many, upon graduating from law school, he opened his law practice in San Francisco and represented the poor and oppressed. As he fought for social change, before he knew it, the cases he was involved in had national significance.
While this new endeavor satisfied his quest for meaning and purpose initially, he still felt that there was something missing from his life. Before the benefits of meditation were well-known, he began meditating which has been at the core of his life since those days. Through regular meditation practice, not only did he feel less stressful, he began to gain insight into how he identified with the successes and failures in his career. So when his girl friend at the time invited him to meet her for a pilgrimage in Greece and travel with her to some of the different islands and to Israel, he didn’t hesitate to say yes. But when one of his most important clients demanded that Mark cancel his trip so that he could finish his litigation sooner, Mark was in a quandary. He made a decision, which became a defining moment in his life and helped pave the way for the life-altering decision he made many years later. He told his client, at the risk of losing him, that he wasn’t going to change his plans. Although the client went elsewhere, upon Mark’s return there were three new clients waiting for him to represent them.
Mark’s values and lifestyle were different than most attorneys. Not only did he have many different interests, he made time for them including his love of nature and playing music. When he was visiting a friend, who had just returned from hiking the 12 mile wilderness hike along the Napali Coast on Kauai, it took him only a few seconds to make the decision that was what he wanted to do. This decision was one of those decisions that you know on a soul level is what you need and have to do. Within a few weeks, he left for Kauai. Although he didn’t know it at the time, Kauai would soon become a second home to him.
Mark always had the willingness and courage to follow his heart and instincts. When his good friend, Kent Hinesley, invited him to visit him in Loveland, Colorado, it didn’t take long for Mark to say yes. It was there that Kent introduced Mark to Annie, one of his aikido students. It was love at first sight. Although his mind kept saying that this relationship wouldn’t work, he followed his heart. After the third day Mark invited Annie to comeback to California with him. They have been together for over 26 years now.
Mark shared his love of Kauai with Annie. And soon after, with their young family, began living on the island three months of the year. Now that the seed was planted, they created a lifestyle that worked for them. Mark came to the realization that he could have both a meaningful life and a successful law practice. Gradually what shifted for him was how he related to his profession. It no longer defined him. It was just one of many things that he did. It was during this period, along with another musician that he produced and recorded a CD of their original music.
As he continued on the path of awakening, music, yoga, meditation and living in nature was what made him whole. The law practice, although good to him, became more challenging to juggle. As the nineties progressed, he reached a level of financial success much greater than he could ever have imagined. He wondered for the first time what his life would be like if he didn’t practice law.
He had been a trial lawyer for 30 years. His soul cried out. He made a promise to himself. 1999 would be his last year practicing law. But the lingering question remained, “How would he support his family?” His children were 13, 11, and 8. With that in mind, he sought the advice of a career counselor for guidance as to what he could do next. That next step was not revealed to him at that time. Although he put some money aside for his children’s education and for their future, he wondered if it would be enough. He started to reevaluate the promise he made to himself.
The year 2000 had always been significant in his thinking. Since he had been a kid he had heard many prophecies ranging from the world is coming to an end, to we were entering the Age of Aquarius. The timing seemed perfect. He was done being a lawyer. He felt that if he didn’t make this transition now that he never would. Even though there were still the lingering doubts, he followed his gut and his heart. He had the faith that he would be able to figure it out. Once he made the decision that this was it, Divine Guidance took over.
His dream had always been to make a difference in the lives of others as a teacher or mentor but he didn't know where to start. Events and circumstances began to occur that supported him on his journey. On a visit to Optimum Health, a health spa, in Austin, Texas, Mark meant Russell Neece who became a mentor to him. As Mark expressed his despair to Russell over finding meaning in his life and how to serve others, Russell suggested to Mark that he thank spirit for revealing to him his next step. “It might be revealed next week or six months from now but it will be revealed,” he compassionately told Mark.
It was on Kauai, a few months later, that he made the decision to become a life coach. On his return to Marin he had an experience that reinforced that this was the right decision. As he was getting on the plane, a man said to him, “I know you, you're an attorney.” After telling him that he hadn't been an attorney for over a year, the man asked him what he was doing instead.
Rick Baskin became Mark’s good friend and first coaching client. That's the way it has gone since making that decision nine years ago. Although his path has not always been mapped out so that he can see what's next, his life has been an exciting journey of discovery.
Whether he is coaching clients privately, speaking to groups or leading a retreat, his message is that regardless of our life’s circumstances, we can always find more joy and meaning in our life. He is a coauthor along with other experts, Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy in the book 101 Great Ways to Improve your Life. He publishes the inspirational ezine, Letters on Life and is a frequent contributor to the world-renowned leadership magazine, Effective Executive. His book, Dancing on the River…Finding Joy and Meaning in the Midst of Change will be released in the fall of 2009.
