Greg Hughes

​My kids make me tick in terms of helping them grow and succeed and have meaningful experiences in life. Also being able to teach them to serve others, to think of others instead of themselves. I think is something that I've enjoyed, seeing and watching my kids grow.
 
What has made me who I am? I would say being married previously for 26 years and having four children. One of my children suffers from bipolar disorder. So I have learned an incredible amount about mental health or mental illness, and I have learned patience. I think that probably one of the most valuable lessons I learned through it all is, to develop a deeper sense of empathy for people who have experienced, difficult things in their lives such as mental illness. That was kind of an awakening for me, that life is not always perfect. Sometimes it's far from perfect. But you have to look at what you can learn and glean from every experience. 
 
Developing a greater sense of empathy allows you to accept people no matter what their condition or situation is with far greater ability. And knowing that we're all so vastly different. We each have challenges and talents. Just for me, it was developing that greater sense of empathy and understanding that people are different. They may be so far from what you were, what your value system is, how you were raised, and how you think about certain things. And so, it really has, I think, broadened my perspective to be far more accepting of people. Taking them for who they are, where they are in life, and also trying to find ways I can help or offer guidance or assistance. That's a blessing in my life to be able to help others.
 
In my youth, when I was a Boy Scout, I was always fascinated with the beekeeping merit badge. At that time, you had to have an observation hive to work on the merit badge. I asked my grandfather who was good at woodworking, if he could help me make an observation hive. Which is basically a beehive with plexiglass sides so you could watch all the activity. My grandfather was a bit of a perfectionist and he felt it would be easier for him to just make it and give it to me for my birthday. 
 
It was sanded and painted, he used dovetailing and caulking; it was a piece of piece of art. I found a place where I could get a small hive. I put in the observation hive and then I began learning how beekeeping works, and I’ve just always had a fascination. Then, I grew up and went to college and got married. Probably about seven years ago, I got the bug, so to speak. I decided to do this as a full-fledged hobby. I ended up getting I think, four hives to start. And that's kind of how it all started. I actually found out through the hobby that I am allergic to bees, not to the point of dying, but it's a pretty bad reaction.
 
I am ultra-careful in terms of suiting up wearing the gloves up to my elbows, wearing cowboy boots that go up to my knees almost and I use a smoker. And so, I don't take any chances and I have only been stung a few times in my career hobby. But it's always a lesson in humility that you know, even though they're small creatures, they are very powerful and can inject a lethal dose of venomous venom to bring a man down. They are still a favorite thing to do.
 
Another thing I enjoy is going on bike rides. I also enjoy most water sports, so I love jet skis, boating, water skiing. I think anything with water is a very soothing and therapeutic place for me. 
I moved here (Collin County) for a job 21 years ago; that was three, three jobs ago. I moved to McKinney about two and a half years ago. I absolutely love it. For the last 20 years I always had land and space. So moving to McKinney was a very big change for me. I got used to not having neighbors and fences and all of that. And now, I have neighbors and fences, but I have learned to love my neighbors, to help them, and to serve them. I've had opportunities to do all of the above in McKinney, which has been great, kind of takes you out of your own self, out of your own world. And it's allowed me to broaden my perspective by helping, and serving others.

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