About The Author

T C Earl is an author, dad, granddad, businessman and mentor to many people facing life challenges. He started his career as a policeman when he was just 17 year old.

Now, more than 50 years later, he looks back at the many people he has known in his life through the perspective of the wisdom of his years. He feels compelled to share the inspirational stories of the people he has met and lives he has seen both shattered and rebuilt, in the hopes that they will provide guidance, insight, hope and reassurance to others going though the same life challenges.

He currently lives in the tiny tropical island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, with his wife Diane, superdog Teddy, and 5 cats who have decided they want to share the same house with him.

There, on the white sandy beaches of the Caribbean Sea, he discovered a love for the brilliant pieces of sea glass that wash ashore overnight, and which can be picked up in the morning rays of light as he walks on the solitary beach at dawn.

He realized that sea glass, polished gems formed of broken bottles tossed and tumbled by ocean currents until they are polished smooth, are like the people he has met through the years.

Broken and battered, scoured by the challenges of their journey, they emerge from their life struggles more beautiful than before for the wisdom and love they have earned along their arduous journey.

He invites you to send him a message at TcEarl@seaglassinthesand.com to share your reaction to this story.

He would also love you to share your own story of pain, suffering, struggle, and eventual transformation as you too move from broken to beautiful.

Why I Wrote This Book

At 68 years old, I’ve lived a full life with a mindboggling number of life experiences.

Many were good.

I raised two wonderful sons, both born as tiny preemies who just fit inside the palm of my hand, and enjoyed every minute of being a dad.

I have 2 fabulous grandchildren which are the light of my life.

I’ve enjoyed the love and friendship of many amazing people, both friends and family members.

I’ve had many stimulating and fulfilling careers, starting as a police officer at just 17 years old. I’ve been a small business owner, a realtor, a construction contractor, a logistics coordinator for a large company, a multilevel sales leader, and much more.

I played hockey against some of the best players in the world.

I had the rare opportunity to spend a month on a church ministry, visiting the poorest of the poor villages in Kenya in Africa, and helping to transform the lives of dozens of people.

They are the fond memories of a life well lived.

I’ve had many other life experiences which were devastating.

I was in a head-on collision that left my face and body mangled, requiring hours of plastic surgery and months of painful recovery.

I’ve had 2 heart attacks, 2 strokes, and because of those medical bills, I was homeless and lived in my car for 2 years.

I suffered mind-numbing PTSD from my days as a young police officer, seeing terrible pain and death no one should ever be forced to see from a distance, much less close up.

I’ve lost everything in a bitter divorce, and watched the businesses I built die during the economic recession.

I’ve been financially devastated by identity theft, and wiped out by fraudsters who stole my identify, cleaned out my bank accounts, and left me with hundreds of thousands of dollars of debts I never incurred.

I rushed to my fiancee’s home to discover her teenage son who committed suicide in the garage.

Last year, I buried my 32-year old son, and my mother, both of whom I cherished. Every other loss pales by comparison.

And yet… today I am happy and feel blessed beyond belief.

I have my health, my mind and brain, a heart that cares deeply for others, and a passion for life.

I have 5 younger siblings that I helped raise, my older son and my two amazing grandchildren, and wonderful friends collected throughout the years, and they are all alive and in good health.

And I’ve recently met a wonderful woman who makes my heart soar, and gives new meaning to my life.

Throughout this long, complicated, often painful journey, I’ve been hurt, damaged, broken physically, financially, and emotionally.

But I made it through the pain and heartbreak, I recovered, and now I am happier than I can remember being in many years.

Like a piece of broken glass, my life is changed, transformed, scratched and scarred, but now somehow more beautiful from the process, like sea glass.

Over these many years, I have met amazing people of all ages and walks of life, and I witnessed or learned about their struggles and challenges. And most importantly, I marveled at how they too overcame life’s many adversities to come out of the tunnel of despair into the brilliant sunlight of joy and happiness.

Their stories matter, and it is with great pleasure that I bring them to you.

So often, we feel alone in life, misunderstood, left out, misfits, or damaged beyond repair.

But there is hope for a better day, and these people whom I hold in my heart and share with you through these stories can serve as inspiration to help you get through a devastating experience, personal pain and loss, sorrow, regret and shame, personal betrayal and so much more.

Life can be very cruel and hard. But it can also be wonderful, filled with joy and excitement, and love at any age.

When your life is good, you don’t need this book.

But when life is hard, I offer you inspiration to help you pick yourself up, assuage your wounds, heal your heart, and embrace a new day of unlimited potential.

I long ago learned that with every thorn, there is also a rose.

Without pain, we often don’t realize how blessed we are in so many ways. We don’t stop to reexamine our lives, assess our situation, change beliefs and behaviors, and grow personally.

We only change and grow in times of pain and stress. That’s when you, or someone you care about, needs to hear how these 5 amazing women fought through their pain and disappointment to transform their lives for the better. I pray they will help you gain the strength to do the same, and reassure you that you are not alone.

You may be broken right now. But you can become whole and beautiful and filled with joy in the future.

Because at the end of the day, there is always a rose lurking among the thorns. Let me help you find and nurture it.

T C Earl

Why I Wrote This Book

Working...