Live Your Best Life!

By Mark Ozog

LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE! is one Man's journey from Hollywood to Greece plus travels all over the world from Australia to Cambodia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Poland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, Israel, Italy, Vatican City, Mexico, and more. Be TRUE to oneself in order to eliminate anxiety and pressures of society in order to be 100 % free! This is self help, yet at the same time a joyful awakening and endeavor in what may seem as a cruel world, but in hindsight a beautiful one. We are ALL in this together- LIFE!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9781098377847

Book preview

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© 2021 Mark Ozog. All rights reserved. First Edition

BOOKBABY, INC

Pennsauken, NJ

First originally published by BookBaby, Inc, 2021

ISBN (Paperback) 978-1-09837-783-0

ISBN (Digital) 978-1-09837-784-7

Printed in the United States of America

I have known Mark and his family for over 20 years. Their stories fascinate me. Enjoy Mark’s adventures!

Malgorzata Kot, Managing Director of the Polish Museum of American, Chicago, IL

"Mark has been a great friend to me. He has inspired me a lot. We both have been traveling a lot in this last decade. There have been times that he travels thousands of miles to see a friend, which inspires me and teaches me what a good friend is. He sets a goal, closes his eyes, and goes for it. Nothing stops him. I admire his passion for his values. My life before and after knowing this amazing person has been different. I recommend reading this book!

Benjamin Isaacie, CEO, Persisca Technologies, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Mark has amplified the meaning of what we stand for- IF WE SAVE ONE LIFE, WE HAVE SERVED OUR PURPOSE!

Lisa Mayo, Founder of They WILL Know, West Covina, CA

Photo credits based on their ordered placement in the book-

Wallace Ozog: 1

Audra Potz Holtz: 2

Danielle Siembieda-Gribben: 3

Rhonda McCaughey: 4

Unknown photographer(s): 5, 15, 18, 25, 31, 35, 36, 38, Back cover swimming photo

Susan Carruthers: Back cover Mark Ozog photo

Martin Gesikowski: 6

Nathan Smythe: 7

Mark Ozog: Front Cover, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 37

Joshua Kash: 8, 9

Christopher Ozog: 20

Lukas Suter: 29

Kai Lau: 39

Marcus J. Thomas: 40

Roberto Arreola: Front and Back Cover Design

Sometimes life may not go as planned, but if you roll with the punches and focus on YOUR true path, it will eventually become bittersweet and in turn be your best life.

To all those who read this book, I hope you will be inspired to live your best life and still believe, too.

In Memory

Those who passed too young, this book is dedicated to you:

Karen Czarnecki Majano

Brooke Butler Copher

Tricia Howard

Tina Tracy

Kristelle Smith

Joanie, ‘Chyna,’ Lauer

Jake Pennar

Amir Teymouri

James Bateman

Eugene Sotela

Kenneth Johnson

Stellios of FlyArt Travel of Drios, Paros, Greece

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my family for providing me life and my friends from all over the world for providing me with more life- thank you!

To my first editors: Torie Currier Gawel, Lori Ann Keisic, Marcia Pilkiewicz, and Michael Eister, thanks for letting me introduce my first version to you while I was still on the Greek isle and for providing your assistance to get this story up and running and off the ground.

To Book Baby Publishing: thank you for making my second published book a reality.

To Roberto Arreola of Robert Art and Design: thank you for the front and back cover design.

To all the people who put me up for a night or two or more, thanks for supporting this artist: Marie and Krister Fritz, Martin Gesikowski, Maria Hellstrom, Bruce and Marlene Haney, Bill and Kathleen Hunter, Mara Margaillan, Mario Ballesteros, John Cupp, Lisa Slade, Lisa Mayo, Greg and Maya Rogers, Candice Anderson, Julio Correa, Nick Capous, Peter Filipakis, Denis Benojarto, Max Imilian, Cindy and Bob Ozog, Maryam Mamdouth, Kevin Haranczak, and Brad Ravish.

It is difficult to thank so many, but here are those who have an impact on this story.

THANK YOU

Wallace and Joann Ozog

Michael, Deanna, Ryan, and Grace Ozog

Ian, Jack, and Jonathon Regnier

Christopher, Barb, Olivia, and Cassidy Ozog

Taylor and Madison Withers

All my Ozog, Klein, Basta, Roden, Chorzepa, Berman, Grubb, Mikus, Shelton, Stock, Lijana, Dreifus, Honigman, Nickels, Nalodka, English, Kushel, Godlewski, Martin,White, Zoltowski, Rytlewski, Romzek, Zito, Fry,Van Jaarsveld, & Gilley cousins.

Alice Ozog Johnson

Adam Mientkiewicz

Aunt Ginny Kushel

Sr. Ann Ozog

Agnes, Lorraine, and Camille Ozog

Joe and Nina Ozog

Dorothy and Thomas Carson

Shirley Zoltowski

Barbara VanJaarsveld

Chris Martin

Robert and Cindy Ozog

Kevin Haranczak and Family

Brian Palencik and Family

Ann Marie Mickel and Family

Maria Polsinelli

Cherie’ Rader

Michelle Agosta

Judy Gianino

Beth Polonis Diedrich

Ryan Jaron

Jim Looman

Sonia Cannon

Myra Salapare

Donna Krolczyk

Randy Lagrou

Kim Connell

Ann Marie Tayor

Jim Cherpes

Ryan Pohl

Jason Mass

Walter Christian Moralde and Family

Bill and Kathleen Hunter

Grayson Berry

Glenn Scarpelli

Jerry Gilden

Brian Perry

David Turner

Greg and Maya Rogers

George, Elaine, Candice, Stephen, Kelly Anderson and Family

Terri and Chris Franks

Janet, Bruce, and Marlene Haney

Diego Garcia and Carina Chadwick

Krister, Marie, Melissa, and Amanda Fritz

Martin, Isak, Anna, Anton Gesikowski and Maria Hellstrom

Simon and Clara Baczkowski and Tina Jussila

Mathias Lunneryd

Goran, Pia, Felicia, and Fabbe Wafors and Phillip Rooth

Kaiko Veiga and John (Johny) Fernandez Soage of Vigo, Spain

Tina Pamboukdjian

Obi Obadike

Greg Plitt

Nick Myre

Gary and Larry Lane

William and Katherine Aguirre and FitnessX.com

Robert Castro

Dave Cope

Denis Benojarto

Minna Tran

Brad Ravish

Donna Carrier

Mazena Lecka

Barbara Galczynska

John Cupp

Lisa Slade

Colleen McGonigle

Nikki Russo

Michelle Russo

Lisa Mayo

Liliana Montenegro

David Sifling

Cyndie Nava

Dani Dmitreff-Nivar

Gregg Oppenheimer

Michael Stern

Lance Ovist

Laura Yvette Miscioni

Todd Rundstrom

Scot Stecher

Tyler and Jessica Kamerman

Cindy Vhall

Miguel Tocado and Sara Martin

Peter Rate and Family

Paul Minassian

Kaleo Hui

Corey Barnes

Dean Fernando

Cooper Barnes

Johan Beckles

My FIDM family (you all know who you are)

VMS, LA

Lianne Jones

Danielle Siembieda-Gribben

Summer O’Brien

SAG-AFTRA, Los Angeles, California, USA

Michael Anthony, Jr.

Matthew Campbell

Marcus Thomas

Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA

DeLaSalle Collegiate, Warren, Michigan, USA

Vicki Granger

Brother Joseph Jozwiak

St. Anne Catholic Community, Warren, Michigan, USA

Cheryl Shalagan

Carmen Norkiewicz

Karen Raczkowski

PRCUA (Polish Roman Catholic Union of America)

All my Polonia Family and Friends especially from Polish dancing through the years!

Polish Museum of America, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Malgorzata Kot

Angloville, Poland (Sarah, Rebecca, Tomasz, Martyna, Kamil, Arvind, Zdzislaw, Mairead, Anna, Verity, Jody, Hamish, Patrycja, Kamila, Olga, and Zaneta)

Robert and Eleanor Bielenda and Family

Barbara Raczynski Toboy and Family

Marsha Pilkiewicz

Karen Zakrzewski

Taylor Baugh

Arsineh and Alen Alenkin

Benjamin, Cassandra, and Nicola Isaacie

Persisca Network, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Can Kizildereli

Cansu Mishal

Luca Bosurgi

Fish Olmos and Julie Bolton

Igor Jablonski, Agnieszka Gwiazdon, and Nikola Jablonska

Luis Mario Salazar Noriega, Pola Wojcicka, alnd Maite Salazar

Betty Jones and Family

Daphne Mendizabal

Ed and Lori Abate and Family

Amy and Brian Gwizdz and Family

Christian Costea

Lori and Maria Miesek

Alok, Soniya, and Sita Mishra

Shane, Laura, and Lily Vorster

JC (Julio) Correa

Joshua Kash

Robert Siegel

Dennis Maynard

Coope Diem (Ryan Cooper)

Blaine Vedros

Glo Hawa

Keiko Benson

Mina Gibson

Jason Sleisinger

Luciano Iannone

KMK (Rosemary, Silvia, Miriam, Flor, Karina, Francezca,Tami)

Spiro Markou

Annie Markou-Alexopoulou

Jessica Parker

Rosario Yu

JJ Vallarta (Jeff Albert)

Kendra Brothers

Abe Ruiz

Amanda Marquez

Nick and Roy Capous and Bridge2Paradise

Francesca Ardesi

Anna Tzioti

Peter Filipakis

Giannis, Maria, Margarita, Giorgos, Dmitris, and Panagiota Kudwniews and Family

Kostas Patelis

Marina Kudwniews and Family

Lewnidas Perrakis and Family

Voula and Hraklhs Gemeiliari

Alasdair (Ali) Boyle and Parosaccommodation.net

Michelle Sawyer

Maria and Bella Tzanakopoulou and Family

Eva and Kostas of Mylos of Marpissa, Paros, Greece

Cecila Vecchioli

Nikolas Sarris

Arethousa and Anna Restaurants and the Green Project of Drios, Paros, Greece

Remezzo of Piso Livadi, Paros, Greece

Giannis and Sophia of Bar Romantica

Sophia Spiliotopoulou

Vasso, John, and Eleni Foka

Alexandra Fotiadou

Afroditi Afendaki, Aris, Stratus, Nikos, and the best thespian group on Paros, Greece

Constantina Karageorge and Family

Aegean Eye of Sifnos, Greece

Sea House of Amorgos, Greece

Jenny Crissey

Ashley Saluga

Eva Sciuba

Orilea Chase

Chhou Samnang (Happy)

Oscar Puglisevich Miranda

Lukas Suter

Ema Rankovic

Helena Basaric

Andreas Tsak

Jerry Supiran

Mario and Nico Ballesteros

Mara Margaillan

and of course, GOD!

Contents

Introduction

Where the Dream Began!

A Different Light…

Expect the Unexpected

Time Out for Turkey

Committed to Recover through the Eyes of the World

Time to Say Goodbye, Hollywood

East Coast, USA to Europe!

Arrival in Greece

Surfin’ Costa Rica Way with the Hateful Eight

Welcome to Paros-dise

Naxos-Land of Zeus and Big Brother to Paros

The Beach and East Side of Paros-dise

Antiparos

A Much Different World on this Side of the Pond in Paros-dise

Cuba for Free Americans

White Village/ Aspro Chorio

Cambodia’s Insect Cuisine

A Quieter Winter than Expected

Let the Greek Tours Begin: My First Victims: Family!

Santorini—Thirteen Years Later

America, Brazil, and Austria All Come to Paros

Paros Pandemic 2020

Cyclades Island Hopping: Mykonos

Cyclades Island Hopping: Ios

Cyclades Island Hopping: Sifnos

And Now a Word from Our Sponsor-Coronavirus

Cyclades Island Hopping: Milos

Live Your Best Life!

Cyclades Island Hopping: Amorgos

More Adventures Await

Conclusion

Bibliography

About The Author

Introduction

Make a wish, make a goal, let it happen! You only have one life to live. To anyone who has lost hope in an uncertain world, may this book inspire you to live your best life. It took me a lifetime to get where I am, but I have only just begun. Life is a marathon, not a sprint, so enjoy the ride.

My late grandmother lived to be ninety-seven-years-old. I often asked her, what was her secret to longevity. She told me to stay active, never hold a grudge, look at the humor in life, and have a beer and shot of whiskey now and then. Her spirit was always youthful as well. She would still flirt like a teenager with her eighty-five-year-old younger widowed male neighbor. I guess that is where the humor is, too.

I once had the opportunity to meet veteran television actress Betty White, best known for her character Rose Nyland from the 1980s and 1990s situation comedy The Golden Girls. She was a lot like my grandmother, too. As I held Betty’s hand, I said, Betty, you are a blessing from above! She responded by saying, No, Mark, you are a blessing from above! We both then smiled at each other and laughed. To be honest, we are all blessings from above, so if you look at life this way, you will be full of bliss.

With my grandmother Victoria and mother Joann

Meeting actress Betty White at the Emmy Awards 2009

There are two sides to my story: my message and how I was dealing with my own anxiety and depression, in particular in my last few years living and struggling as an artist in Hollywood, California. I had to seek the world in a certain way as my therapy, so I traveled it. I then ultimately came to Greece to live and experience this culture which goes back centuries. The second side of my story focuses on how I traveled to over fifty countries to see humanity and that we are all human and we are on this earth together. I chose to live in a country like Greece because this ancient land ultimately is where Western civilization began with democracy, politics, science, art, architecture, religion, mythology, language, philosophy, as well as live theater. It took my time in Greece to rediscover myself and understand that I am a blessing from above. I chose the Hollywood dream-making machine as a struggling actor for over twenty years, but now I had to take myself away from the media, Hollywood, a society based on money and material gains to a soulful way of what really matters in life. By changing your thinking patterns and focusing on what you really want to do, you will become a winner every time and in turn, be there for others to help this world as we are all in this together. Each of us has our own journeys and stories that help us open ourselves even more to others.

Thank you for taking the time to read this book about my travel through fourteen different US states from California on my way to Greece. I have also traveled to places like Sweden, Turkey, Israel, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Thailand, and Cambodia, just to name a few, plus various travels to over a dozen Greek islands to help me get over anxiety and depression while discovering how to live my best life. Thank you to all the various people I have encountered along the way and have written about them in a journal-like fashion in this book, Live Your Best Life!, as a follow-up to my first book, I Still Believe! This time I overcame anxiety by traveling the world. Now I hope, by reading this book, you will be able to still believe, too. Live every moment to the fullest—carpe diem!

1

Where the Dream Began!

When a person has had a dream their entire life and they never wanted to give up on it since they could remember, life can eventually take its toll. As with everything, life does have its obstacles, but to learn from it is most important. Ever since I was about four years old, I wanted to move to Hollywood, California, and become a television actor. Those were the days of the 1970s. Life was simpler and television was the most significant medium. Shows like Happy Days, Three’s Company, Dallas, The Dukes of Hazard were all the in thing while computer technology was just beginning to advance. This all went hand in hand with the up-and-coming cable networks like MTV and CNN.

Coming from a large family and being brought up Polish and Roman Catholic, competition and finding oneself went hand in hand. I had a disease called tuberous sclerosis, which I did not find out I had until I was twenty-two years old and a week away from graduating from college. Growing up, I had many lesions on my face, which many (including myself), thought was just acne. I had it on my lower face and all around my nose. I looked like a young W.C. Fields at times. Eventually, it was predicted that I had rosacea, which is what the classic actor had, so I was not going to be any different. When I went to see a skin doctor in Arizona for laser surgery, it was discovered that it was tuberous sclerosis, a multi-organ disease which has mutants showing up in several different organs besides the skin, like kidney, liver, heart, and the brain. After being tested, I had none of the symptoms in any of these organs, except for my skin. The most extreme case of the disease is mental retardation. I was told this by someone