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:
Father/Son Marathon
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I believe with every fiber in my being that I was put on this earth to be a father.
From day one, I’ve loved the job and embraced the challenge.
I’m also proud to report that I’m good at it. Not because of any natural talent but because I take it seriously and work at it.
One of my core tenets as a father is to “lead from the front.”
I’ll never ask my kids to do something I haven’t done or am unwilling to do. In my opinion, this is leadership 101.
Ok, I’ll get to my point now.
I’ve always had a strong relationship with my son, Jude—but in 2023, we became best friends.
And it wasn’t by accident.
Earlier this year, he started asking questions about some of the things I do.
Why do you lift weights?
Why do you run?
Why do you sauna/cold plunge?
Why don’t you ever eat junk food?
We began having a lot of deep conversations about life. The importance of living with purpose. The difference between instant and delayed gratification. The value of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.
I got to explain to him that not only do these things make my body stronger and my mind sharper—but more importantly, they make me a better husband, a better father, and a better Christ-follower.
He bought into the lifestyle, and we started working out together regularly.
About three months ago, he randomly asked me if I thought he could run a marathon.
My quick answer was, “Absolutely! Let’s start training, and maybe by the time you’re 18, we could run one together.” He then told me he wanted to run the Bass Pro Marathon with me THIS YEAR.
It seemed crazy (even to me), but we started running regularly to see what he was made of.
Last month, we successfully ran two half marathons, so I decided he could handle the big leagues.
This morning, I finished my fifth marathon, and he finished his first.
We crossed the finish line together, and it was, undoubtedly, my proudest moment in 38 years on planet Earth.
To be clear, I’m incredibly proud of the physical accomplishment (26.2 miles is a long way for anyone to run, let alone a 13-year-old), but I’m much more proud of who he’s becoming.
The kid is special. He is disciplined. He is humble. He has integrity. He is wise beyond his years.
Being his dad is an honor and a privilege.
I’m proud to report that the trajectory is good.
PS — You’re technically supposed to be 18 in order to run the full marathon, so we signed him up as Bre Stewart, and he ran in the 35+ women's division. I don’t like to lie, but I’m at peace with the decision. If any Bass Pro representatives read this and I need to pay a fine or serve some jail time, just let me know.
Godspeed.
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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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