My Dad retired from farming at 80, not because he lost his love of growing food, but rather because of bureaucracy. He still went out to the farm every day to care for things around the yard until he could no longer drive. It was an important lesson to me when he retired

Know what you love to do and “outsource” the rest. Don’t get bogged down in bureaucracy and power struggles (unless that’s your thing). Be brutally honest. Nobody was “confused” about where my Dad stood on anything. He was both honest and perceptive.

At some point many of us will reach a point where our honesty will cause friction. Good people will respect that friction and return in kind. Just stick to your values and your dreams. We’re all on different paths.

As for those that are negatively calculating, conniving, & deceitful, it’s best to stay away from those folks and share as little of your personal life with them as possible. I miss both my Mom and Dad. I could use a good ole fashioned “shoot the shit” session with them right now

Thanks to both of them for their valuable service to their craft, their community, and their family. Their “wake” has rippled far and wide. We need more people like them right now. Empathy, caring, and love (hard and soft) are in short supply.

One very important final point on this thread. Be human to a flaw.