Hi, I’m Josh Stewart.
These are my thoughts.
→ I write because it helps me think clearly.
→ I share because it keeps me accountable.
Progress is achieved through iteration.
Recent writings:
Hawaii > Florida
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I’m gonna be honest with you guys, I thought Florida and Hawaii were basically the same thing — turns out I was wrong.
Using an algorithm I created myself (based on cleanliness, food quality, population density, and wildlife), I can make a strong argument that Hawaii is (at a minimum) 4 times better than Florida.
Here are a few highlights from our recent trip:
• Ruby was voted loudest person on every flight we boarded (unanimously).
• Gwyn lost a lot of things including her boarding pass (within 5 minutes of me handing it to her, looking directly into her eyes and saying “don’t lose this, it’s very important“).
• Lila “slayed all day everyday” — her words, not mine.
• Jude met the love of his life at the Mauna Kea Luau (just kidding, but photo #8 makes me belly laugh every time).
We’re already planning our return in ‘24.
Shoutout to B-Stew for making me go.
Godspeed.
Bonus: My wife made us visit an active volcano and then it erupted a few days later. This is the documentary telling our family’s story of bravery and triumph in the face of life threatening adversity. Thank you for your support.
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Daily Affirmation
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Definition
affirmation. / (ˌæfəˈmeɪʃən) / noun.
the act of affirming or the state of being affirmed.
a statement of the existence or truth of something.
Start at the beginning
In a world full of distractions, I’ve committed to starting each day rooted in truth.
I’m a big believer that clear writing is a sign of clear thinking, and have found immense value in grounding myself each morning (and often throughout the day) by audibly speaking this affirmation over myself.
I wrote it intentionally to serve as a reminder of who I am and where I’m going.
My Daily Affirmation
I am a son of the one true King.
A spark of the Divine lives within me.
The Lord has equipped me to live righteously in every circumstance.
As the patriarch of my family, I will lead from the front.
I will do the hard things that make me the best version of myself.
I will refuse passivity and confront the things that need correction.
I will be faithful to my Savior, my wife, and my children until the very end.
I will be legacy-minded and kingdom-focused in all I do.
Each day is a gift—I choose to live on purpose.
Application
I can’t begin to explain how valuable this has been for me.
It’s written on my heart and I’ve learned to instantly recite specific portions of it to myself in certain circumstances.
A few examples:
When Ruby is screaming in the car — “the Lord has equipped me to live righteously in every circumstance.”
When I don’t feel like getting out of bed at 5:30 am — “I will do the hard things that make me the best version of myself.”
When I don’t want to have a tough conversation — “I will refuse passivity and confront the things that need correction.”
The list goes on and on.
The older I get, the more I’m becoming the type of person I used to roll my eyes at. And honestly, I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.
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Thanks, Dad
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My Dad’s Dad died when he was five.
He didn’t have a Dad to teach him how to be a Dad.
He started from scratch and he figured it out.
As a Dad myself, that is something I refuse to take for granted.
At my Grandmother’s funeral, I got the chance to meet a lot of people who hadn’t seen me since I was just a few years old. There was one conversation I’ll never forget.
I was talking to one of my Dad’s old college buddies, and he was going on and on about what my Dad was like back in the day.
He said my Dad always had this “unexplainable cool factor” about him, that he had an enviable artistic talent, and that he was quite the party animal 😂
After a few more laughs, he said something I’ll never forget:
“You know, everything changed when you were born.”
He continued.
“Your Dad stopped partying.”
“He stopped hanging out with the guys.”
“He put his head down and worked harder than anyone else in school.”
“You changed him.”
Every time I think about that conversation, I get a little emotional.
I was born when my Dad was 19.
The odds were stacked against him.
No one made him do anything.
He chose to embrace the situation.
He chose to lean into adversity.
He chose to rise to the occasion.
His decision shifted his legacy and an entire lineage.
I love my Dad.
I also admire my Dad.
Love is a very powerful emotion, but it’s different than admiration.
Admiration is a feeling of high regard, respect, and appreciation for someone’s qualities and achievements.
The list of people I love is very long.
The list of people I admire is much shorter.
My Dad is at the top of both lists.
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House of Stewart
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As the leader of this house, I have to articulate these things clearly. It’s my job. If I fail to do so, it leaves the door open for others (who care much less) to clearly articulate the opposite values. I’m not going to let that happen on my watch.
Our Family Crest
Our family crest is rooted in purpose and intended to establish a sense of pride and rectitude for generations to come. The symbol unifies our lineage and represents the intentionality that unites us.
Our Family Manifesto
Good intentions are worthless without a plan of action — this is why our manifesto exists. What follows is a public declaration of our family’s purpose and intent.
We place our faith and trust in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We purposefully seek Him and He delights in the details of our lives.
We accept our circumstances and embrace ownership of our outcomes.
We understand that true freedom comes from discipline and that hurry is incompatible with love.
We accept that life was not intended to be easy, but acknowledge it can be full of joy and purpose when lived intentionally.
While others are anxious and afraid, we remain calm and unwavering, because we know who we are and we know where we’re going.
In a world of convenience and passivity, we are ambitious and resolute.
Each day is a gift—and we choose to live on purpose.
Our Core Values
The values we hold inform the decisions we make, the life we lead, and ultimately, who we become.
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We subscribe to a singular and absolute truth in the Bible, God’s living word.
It is our foundation and our compass.
Our lives have been marked by Christ.
If you don’t see it, you’re not paying attention.
We seek to fulfill the will of our Lord and Savior.
Our focus is on pleasing God, not man.
We refuse to let preferences get in the way of priorities.
Psalm 37:23
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We lead with gratitude.
Always.
You can’t be thankful for what you feel entitled to and won’t be entrusted with more until you can appreciate what you have.
If you *think* you have nothing to be thankful for, be thankful for the breath in your lungs.
When we appreciate the good in our life, we have more of it.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
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There, but for the grace of God, go any of us.
We were created in love, by love, for love, in the image of our creator. When we see others through this lens, we treat them the way Christ intended.
We lead with light and love in everything we do.
We practice empathy and default to a charitable interpretation of those around us.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8
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We recognize that discipline is trading what you want now for what you want most.
Time magnifies margin and multiplies whatever you feed it.
Outcomes are a lagging measure of your habits.
Good habits make time your ally, bad habits make time your enemy.
If you do what is easy your life will be hard.
Hebrews 12:11
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We are confident enough to keep trying, humble enough to keep learning.
Remember, the hero and the coward are both scared, but the hero steps forward focused on doing what is right.
Wisdom is discovered when seeking to understand what is right rather than trying to be right.
Confidence is quiet. Arrogance is not.
If we boast, let us boast in the Lord.
Jeremiah 9:23
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The proper goal of education is to develop character.
Moral failure comes from weakness of character.
We are prone to wonder. The best protection against evil is recognizing that it lies within every human heart.
What you fill your mind with will shape the trajectory of your character. For better or worse.
Every action is a vote cast toward the person you become.
Philippians 4:8
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