I’ve always been a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I often reflect back on those moments and I always refer back to the same question, which is: Would I be where I am today had this not happened to me? I don’t know the answer, and I don’t know that I ever will. It’s changed my life in a way where maybe it was meant to be. I think, ultimately, it’s made me a better person, appreciate things in life more than the average person. I talk more about what I’ve gone through with my parents and in my career as a chef in #FireproofMemoir written with Jeremy Wagner, on sale 8/5 from Dead Sky Publishing. You can pre-order the book now wherever books are sold. Photo credit: Michael Muser