Afternoon gents, it’s Max from the Young Gentleman’s Guide here! The inspiration for today’s article is actually twofold. The first is that it’s been almost a year since my grandfather passed away. Those of you who know me personally may already know this, but I never really made that big of a deal out of it since I was simply at a loss for words after it happened. Since the passage of time after it happened, however, I feel like it would be a good time to put out yet another tribute to a man who has inspired not only myself, but virtually everybody he came across. The second is this article that my sister wrote as a tribute to my grandfather shortly after he passed (the link is no longer there since the article has since been deleted). If you want to get a better sense of what I’m going to say in this article, I would highly recommend reading hers first. So without any further delay, let’s see what my grandfather can teach many of you young gents!

1. Loving what you do

Grandpa always had a project to work on. Whether it was in his personal workshop at his house, or his personally-owned metal shop, he was always tinkering with something, and it’s for one simple reason: he loved what he did. He simply did it because he loved to do it, and while he certainly would be rewarded for it, whether it be monetarily or otherwise, that was never his goal. He did it because it was what he knew and what he loved. Not only was he the personification of joyful productivity as my sister puts it, but nothing brought grandpa more joy than seeing other people do what they love. He always saw the value in hard work and enjoying what you do, so he had no reservations in appreciating the talents of others, especially if it was something that was outside of wheelhouse. If he knew that someone worked hard on something simply for the love of doing it, he would support them the whole way.

2. Give as much as you get

It’s no secret that grandpa possessed multiple gifts, whether it be in the realm of mechanics, metalwork, outdoorsmanship, hunting, or the like. Not only did he take these gifts and use them to the best of his capacity, but he was always eager to share his knowledge with anyone and everyone around him. Not only did he serve as the committee chairman and outdoor chairman for my Boy Scout troop for decades, which allowed him to teach generations of young men, myself included, about his love of the wilderness and the outdoors, but he also volunteered with multiple local organizations to help teach children and adults alike about things like antique machines, agricultural tools, railway cars, and so much more. Grandpa was never content to keep his knowledge to himself, and his eagerness to share his talents and wares with the world around him brought him as much joy as it did to those under his tutelage.

3. “Life is good!”

This was essentially Grandpa’s life motto, so much so that it was actually engraved on his tombstone. It’s no secret that life is challenging, unpredictable, and often unfair. Grandpa was no stranger to any of this, but he did more than the best with what he was given. He embraced every aspect of his life and had an intense appreciation for everything and everyone around him, even if it just meant just sitting in silence and “watching the mountains grow.” If someone were to appreciate life at least half as much as Grandpa did, there’s really only one thing they could bring themselves to say: “Life is good!”

So there we have it. If this, my sister’s article, and my previous article about him are to be believed, my grandfather had an unparalleled love for life that many young men today should strive to emulate. He was an incredible example of what a good husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather should be, and I have no idea where I would be without him. In any case, I hope you enjoyed reading today’s post. Please be sure to share the post, follow the blog, and follow The Young Gentleman’s Guide on Facebook and Instagram. And on that note, this is Max from The Young Gentleman’s Guide, and I’ll see you next time!