From Darkness to Light

Book excerpt: David L. Dyer, brother to world-renowned motivational speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer, has his own inspirational story to share. It took David sixty-eight years and the life-altering diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease to truly grasp the signifi cance of his brother’s famous mantra, “Do not die with your music still in you.” Once he did, however,he was able to use his gift of language—a long-suppressed talent—to confront the demons that have haunted him for decades. In his memoir, From Darkness to Light, David recalls stories of his life, from his earliest memories to his most recent years. He recounts childhood memories of playing with Wayne, two years his junior; going into foster care after his father abandoned his family; facing bullies and teasing; and struggling to learn to swim. As he grew older and drifted away from his close friendship with Wayne, David turned to partying and alcohol—and the latter would stay with him for years. He later joined the army and found himself serving in Vietnam, where he witnessed horrific events that would aff ect him for decades to come. From Darkness to Light takes a cathartic journey through the events of one man’s life, following him up to the present. It celebrates the bond of brotherhood, and it embraces David as a boy, as a veteran, and as the man he is today.