Why does it take finding a great woman to make you realize what things are truly important in ones life?

I was married when I was 19, divorced when I was 22. That was after a year-long marriage with a year and half long custody battle over our 6 month old son. With the way the laws are in Texas, I had a 2% chance of getting custody, which I fought for tooth & nail. Needless to say, I didn't get custody but it didn't keep me from staying in my sons life, to this day, letting...