Today is December 26th, and I have had a wonderful Christmas with my lovely wife Rose. It has been just what I wanted, and I am now reflecting on my life at the age of 71. I have been blessed with parents who loved me and my brother, a wife who is everything I needed, and a family that is all I could have wanted. Life is good for me.
I wish that for all of you young people just starting out, graduating from High School, or college, and I want to give you some advice. I know, who am I to tell you how to live? But I was blessed with people who guided me through life with advice I needed, but I necessarily didn’t ask for. I just want you to have the life, or better, that I have had, being just a simple man whose life has been extraordinary. Sometimes, you just get blessed, and I want to give you some ideas of life that may sound old and outdated, but if followed, will lead to a more fulfilling life. This is meant as advice, so take it as you will.
First and foremost, find a mate that is everything you need! I mean someone who actually looks out for you, even though she or he is not what you have dreamed of. That sounds weird I know, but, my wife is exactly what I needed. When I met her, she was stunning to look at (to me she still is!) but she was also very smart, and had a mind of her own. She was far more thoughtful than I was! She actually countered my go-for-broke attitude, and I have been thankful for that.
We are opposites on some things, and that is good….it makes me take time and think…for both of us. That is why we have lasted 50 years together….it’s not just love… it’s compatibility….and it is very important. Don’t get caught up in looks alone (although she is still the prettiest woman to me!)….she keeps me grounded… and that is really important….she makes me think!
Secondly, whatever you decide to do, GIVE IT YOUR ALL AND DON’T EVER GIVE UP! QUITTING IS FOR LOSERS, AND YOU AREN’T! When you find the right job for you give it your best and you will be rewarded!
Thirdly, start NOW saving for your retirement together! Yeah, I know, you’re young and retirement is a million miles away. At 20, 21, 22, it seems that way, but it will get here quicker than you can imagine. I was lucky to have a father who, when I got married at 22, told me when I got home from our honeymoon, that we were going to have an old investment guy from Investment Diversified Services (IDS, now Ameriprise) come over and talk to us. I thought yeah, great, who cares, but it was the BEST thing to happen to Rose and I. We met with him and decided after about an hour that we could save $60 a month (That was 1976!).
That started for us a journey that has led us to have a very comfortable retirement. Of course, when our adviser, Willis Burk, passed away, we went with Edward Jones, and at that time, Aaron Ward was our agent. He was great also. To make a long story short, we are still with Edward Jones, and our new guy, Zach Bruening, has done very well for us. So please, start saving for retirement NOW! It is here before you know it. I can help if you want me to. Just message or call me, and I will help you get started! Zach is young, and smart, and gets what we need.
Fourth, do not put off things you can afford to do! Take that trip to Hawaii, or London, Paris, or the Caribbean. Life is to be enjoyed together, and they cannot take memories away from you. It always amazed me that I found the way to do what we wanted to do, as my dad said we would (in their later years who would have thought a plumber and electrician like my dad could do what they did!)
Rose and I have been to Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, London, Paris, Scotland, Ireland, and other places I never dreamed of with friends, and somehow, we always found the money… we planned ahead. TAKE THAT TRIP! Money is only good if you spend it (advice from my dad!), so see what you want to see.
Rose and I have taken several trips because we saved and planned for them, and I can tell you memories far outlast the money spent. No amount of money can replace our many trips to Vegas, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Cathedral, Canterbury, the Colosseum, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, the Eifel Tower, The Arc de Triomph, Notre Dame, The Old Course at St. Andrews, or the Turnberry Hotel (THAT was 5 star all the way!), Or Killarney, Honolulu, St. Thomas or London, The Blarney Stone, Paris, Roslyn Chapel, or many more.
I’ve done it with Rose and some friends, and I will never forget that. SO DO IT! Make your life special, and plan ahead, you will thank me later on.
Finally, Life will be filled with challenges. I started out as a dump truck driver, hauled out of Poeppleman’s for 42 years! (still treat Fred and Jim as brothers!) Later became a township trustee and, finally, Commissioner for 12 years! I am nothing special, but I worked at all my jobs. I did the best I could, and all my challenges were overcome BECAUSE I DIDN’T QUIT!
Life can be hard, but only as hard as you make it. Family, friends, and others make life for you…..listen to them, they may be smarter than you think. I was blessed with parents, uncles, and friends, mom and dad’s friends, who weren’t afraid to give me advice. At 18-22 you think you know everything….surprise, you don’t! Older folks like Junior Schultz, Jim Buchy, Dale Robbins, my Uncle Jim Turner, my Grandfather Willie Turner, and, of course, my Dad, Bud Stegall, were invaluable teachers for me, and at the time, I really didn’t know it. But by the grace of God, their lessons stuck with me…..and at 71, I am forever grateful!
2026 is a new beginning for some of you. I wish you the best. Don’t think I am trying to run your life, or your parents and family are. They have been there, you haven’t. Listen, Learn, and take what will help you in your life. Not all advice is good, but that is for you to decide. I just hope your life is as good as mine, you find the perfect mate, you invest for your future, and don’t worry the small stuff….it will work out.
I hope you have life-long friends like me: The Breadens, the Ary’s, the Ullery’s, the James’s, and the Aukerman’s, my 72 football teammates, and almost every person I went to High School with. I remember them all; they made me who I am, and I love them all. God, Life is good for me, and I hope it will be for you!
One more thing: Life will be good for you, no matter what you think. If you think your life sucks, CHANGE IT! You have the power to do that. Don’t think that you don’t! YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU AND NOBODY ELSE. If you think life is treating you badly, THEN CHANGE IT! Quit being so soft that you need everyone’s help! You will get that help if PEOPLE SEE YOU TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF. SO, GET OFF YOUR LAZY, WHINING, ASS AND MAKE THINGS BETTER!
Some of you are just too damn lazy and cowardly to help yourself! Take a good, long look at yourself, pick yourself up, and move ahead. People help those who are trying, and if you’re not, you are on your own, and you don’t deserve anyone’s help! YOU CAN DO IT! Quit whining and get on with it!
I hope you young ones take this advice from an old geezer who has been there. I want every one of you to succeed. If you feel you need a pep talk or you need your butt kicked, I am available. I had people do that to me, and I am forever grateful for the ass-kickings and the help I received. I want that for you too!
HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LIFE! LIFE IS AWESOME!…..IF YOU WORK AT IT!!
