1/8/2026 – With Margie’s passing, all of the family–myself, children, and grandkids–assembled their images of her and along with her, creating fairly an album. I contributed many photos and was shocked at what number of of them (just like the one above) have been taken throughout our travels. We had photos from the UK, from Alaska, from Israel, from Europe, from Iceland, and naturally from everywhere in the U.S. I am satisfied that among the finest methods of holding relationships recent is to share in recent experiences. Seeing and doing new issues stored a 42 12 months marriage recent. Inscribed in our wedding ceremony rings–and now additionally on our gravestone–is “Perpetual Ardour”.
Maintaining the eagerness alive in any endeavor, whether or not it’s marriage, profession, or buying and selling, requires a breaking from routine and a willingness to discover new and various things. See the world, see and expertise the entire buying and selling world, see and expertise totally different individuals and cultures.
Might all of us dwell life with perpetual ardour.
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1/7/2026 – The latest submit inspired us to give attention to the legacy we wish to depart behind and focus our efforts on what is actually most vital to us. Would possibly it’s potential that one of the best ways to depart our legacy is to attach deeply with the legacies of these we most admire?
A variety of years in the past, I wrote one thing that Margie preferred a lot she had it framed as a present to me. It reads “One of the best ways to face on the shoulders of giants is to hoist them upon our personal”. In different phrases, if we wish to elevate our lives, we are able to do no higher than to raise these we most respect and cherish and draw upon their inspiration and instance.
Think about that you’re writing a ebook that captures the which means, objective, and essence of who you’re. Who would you dedicate that ebook to? Who can be counted in your “acknowledgements” part? How can we hoist these individuals on our shoulders every day, week, month, and 12 months by following their examples?
In furthering the legacies of these we love and respect by means of our actions and accomplishments, we construct a life worthy of legacy. By honoring others by means of our instance, we dwell an honorable life.
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1/6/2026 – I’ve been touched by the variety of merchants who’ve reached out, together with ones who shared their private experiences with Margie. It is superb how we’ve got a lot extra impression than we notice once we dwell the fitting sorts of lives.
How would you wish to be remembered after you permit this earth? What impacts would you wish to have; what recollections would you want to depart? These are vital measures of wealth, and but we are able to spend extra time anguishing over everyday P/L and ups/downs than on doing the issues that enrich our lives–and the lives of others.
Right here we’re in a brand new 12 months, so here is a terrific new 12 months’s problem:
Think about that you’ll go away on the finish of the 12 months. Figuring out that, how would you wish to spend 2026? What would you most wish to do to cement your legacy–your impression on these you’re keen on, in your group, and on the world?
On this train, each single day that passes locations you sooner or later nearer to your individual passing. There is no time to worry about dangerous buying and selling or every day frustrations. Your single mission is to dwell your life in a approach that may really dwell on in its constructive affect.
This train is greater than the making of a brand new 12 months’s decision. It’s turning your life into an expression of your resolve.
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1/5/2026 – Margie Steenbarger, my spouse of 42 years, handed away this weekend. For me, it has been an incredible loss and likewise an inspiration. Members of the family have come from throughout to be with one another and to rejoice her life. We have now been sharing images and tales and have created a web site the place all our recollections may be shared for years to return. Leaving a legacy means leaving others with experiences and classes that make everybody higher. A life well-lived is a life that retains residing even past our passing. It lives on with these whose lives we’ve got touched.
So what’s the mark on the world that you can be leaving when your days come to an finish? How will you reside on in ways in which enrich the lives of others? It is nice to give attention to P/L and the following set of commerce concepts, however that may by no means construct your legacy. It’s how we impression others that makes the mark that may’t be erased.
What are you doing proper now that may make a constructive distinction later?
With Margie’s passing, a detailed household has grown even nearer and relations that have been solely loosely linked at the moment are dedicated to at least one one other. That was Margie’s legacy: constructing lasting bonds–in the scholars she taught, in her household, and, sure, with me. Together with her passing, I’m dedicated to turning into a greater bond-builder and crafting a legacy as significant and precious as hers.
A saying within the Jewish faith is “Might their reminiscence be a blessing”, taken from Proverbs 10:7 (“The reminiscence of the righteous is blessed”). Once we depart a constructive legacy, we do not depart others with a way of loss, however a way of getting been blessed.
The legacy we construct is an important P/L of all.