Mark Lukach is a freelance writer based out of San Francisco's Ocean Beach and author of "Where The Road Meets The Sun," a memoir about fear, loneliness, uncertainty, and his family's battle with mental illness. In his TEDxMonterey talk, Mark reflects on the adversity he and his wife have faced over the past few years and suggests that, more than ever, a deep and lasting commitment to the people we love might just be an ancient idea worth reviving.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)