Mark Susnow has lived an unique and interesting life involving multiple transitions. As a former trial attorney for 30 years, he was covered by The New York Times, Rolling Stone Magazine, The Boston Globe and The San Francisco Chronicle. In 2000 inspired by the new millennium, Mark became a life coach. He integrates what it takes to be successful in the world with the inner wisdom unfolded to him through years of yoga and meditation. He is the author of Dancing on the River: Navigating Life’s Changes. He is also a contributing author along with Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy and Denis Waitley in the book 101 Great Ways to Improve your Life. In addition to his work in the business world, Mark is an accomplished musician who has played saxophone, clarinet and flute in clubs throughout the Bay Area and Hawaii.

Everyone has a story. When I was thirteen years old, I took my first leap. On a river-rafting trip on the Green River in Colorado, I 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 life felt like an exciting journey of discovery. As an adult I jumped into the rapids again, but this time they were the swirling waters of social justice. Against the advice of many, upon graduating from law school, I opened my own law practice in San Francisco, rather than joining an established firm.

Within a week, I was in the middle of my first jury trial. Before I knew it, several of the cases I was involved in were covered nationally. While this new endeavor was exciting and satisfied my quest for meaning and purpose, I began to feel that there was something missing from my life.

This led me to meditation. Through regular meditation practice, I not only felt less stressful, but I began to gain insight into how I identified with the successes and failures in my career. I continued to practice law for the next several years, while pursuing many different interests. Fate intervened one day when I was visiting a friend, who had just returned from a 12-mile wilderness hike along the Napali Coast on Kauai. It only took me a few seconds to make the decision that was what I wanted to do. Within a few weeks, I left for Kauai. Although I didn't know it at the time, Kauai would soon become a second home to me.

Six years later when my good friend, Kent invited me to visit him in Loveland, Colorado, I went and it was there that Kent introduced me to Annie, one of his aikido students. We fell in love, got married and began a family. I wanted to share my love of Kauai with her and soon after, with our three children, began living on the island, three months of the year. The seeds were planted and I had committed to a lifestyle that worked for me-- I came to the realization that I could have both a meaningful life and a successful law practice.

We wear different hats at different times in our life. It was during this period, along with other musicians, that I co-produced and recorded a CD of our original music. As I continued on my path of awakening, which included music, yoga, meditation and living in nature, the law practice, which had been good to me, was becoming more challenging to juggle.

As the nineties progressed, I reached a level of financial success much greater than I could ever have imagined, but I wondered for the first time what my life would be like if I wasn't practicing law. I made a promise to myself--1999 would be my last year practicing law.

But the lingering question remained, "How would I support my family?" My children were 13, 11, and 8. With that in mind, I sought the advice of a career counselor for guidance as to what I could do next, but he did not have any suggestions. I started to question the promise I had made to myself. Even though there were still some lingering doubts, I followed my gut and heart. 1999 was the last year that I practiced law.

The year 2000 had always been significant in my thinking. Since I was a kid I'd heard of many prophecies ranging from the world is coming to an end, to we were entering the Age of Aquarius. I was done being a lawyer, and the timing for what was next, seemed perfect. I believed that if I didn't make this transition at that time that I never would. Even though I didn't know what was next, I had faith that I would be able to figure it out.

My dream had always been to make a difference in the lives of others as a teacher or mentor but I didn't know where to start. Events and circumstances began to occur that supported me in this next phase of my journey.

On a visit to a health spa, in Austin, Texas, I met Russell Neece who became a mentor to me. As I expressed my despair to Russell over finding meaning in my life and a way to serve others, he suggested that I thank spirit for revealing to me, my next step. "It might be revealed next week or six months from now but it will be revealed," he compassionately told me. It was on Kauai, a few months later, that spirit did reveal itself and I made the decision to become a life coach.

On my return to the mainland I had an experience that reinforced that this was the right decision. As I was getting on the plane, a man came up to me and said, "I know you, you're an attorney." After telling him that I hadn't been an attorney for over a year, he asked me what I was doing instead. This man became my first coaching client.

That's the way it has gone since making that decision twelve years ago.

Although the path has not always been mapped out so that I can see what's next, my life has continued to be an adventure. I am so thankful that I made that leap even though the journey has had its share of ups and downs. That keeps me interested and challenges me to be the best me I can be.

Sometimes you feel called. I knew that my next step was writing, Dancing On The River: Navigating Life's Changes. It was one of the best decisions that I ever made. Although it was a struggle at times and a labor of love, it's been an amazing journey—one that I would not trade for anything. In the process I have learned what it means to be truly dancing on the river of my life. It's an attitude and consciousness that is a reflection of a life decision that you make over and over again to be happy in the moment. Nothing else needs to occur.

From this place of being, I have become much more comfortable with "not knowing" what the future holds. That’s what keeps the journey fresh and exciting. Each day is an opportunity for me to make it what I want it to be.

Whether I'm coaching clients privately, speaking to groups or leading a retreat, the underlying spirit of my work is that regardless of our life circumstances, happiness is a choice. Choose it!!