Hi Max - I discovered your writing when you were a student at Stanford, and they were trying to force to take COVID vaccines to graduate even though you were no longer attending classes on campuses. It was early inspiration for me as co-founded, No College Mandates to fight COVID vaccine madness on college campuses that continue to this day at 86-88 colleges including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Rutgers. Thank you for sharing the details of your story which brought me so much joy, peace and hope. Best wishes to you!
Weird family. Seems their pursuit of their own “happiness “ leaves other family members holding the bag, emotional and financial. If that is OK within your family, so be it.
I hope you think a tad more when your pursuit of your life’s “dreams” has a wake that traps others in the chaos.
Max, this is brilliant. Read it with tears in my eyes, then read it to my wife, who had tears in her eyes, then we talked for two hours about our own lives relative to what you’d revealed of yours. Just a lovely, transformative piece of work, and as a side note, my mind boggles that you have this wisdom, perspective, and writing skill at 23. Hats off, and thank you.
I am so sorry for your losses. My mother was an alcoholic and committed suicidal also. I think the stupidest purchase I made was to buy a car when I didn’t know how to drive. Blessings on your life, Max. Thank you for your article. It warmed my heart.
This was such an honest and poignant essay. So sorry for the loss of your brother and your father. I enjoyed reading this because not many are courageous enough to be this honest. There are commenters on here passing judgement out of concern for your mother - passing judgement on you, your father, etc. for her sacrifices.
The way I read your essay you are in some small way acknowledging some compassion for your father - what would have driven him to buy the boat. You acknowledge the sacrifices your mother made.
And the loss of your brother to remind us how short life is.
I hope you enjoy your farm - whether you keep it or not in the long run, don't accept judgement and criticism from people - I don't think you bought it for others to sacrifice for it but to live out dreams your family hasn't been able to live out.
By the way - I've been around some incredibly successful business people and I can tell you that behind many success stories there are also "stupid" risks, purchases and failed dreams in between. And the biggest success story I know of personally was driven by a man who lived out his father's dream - to vindicate his losses. This is your story that you are courageous enough to share.
That was lovely
Beautiful essay.
Hi Max - I discovered your writing when you were a student at Stanford, and they were trying to force to take COVID vaccines to graduate even though you were no longer attending classes on campuses. It was early inspiration for me as co-founded, No College Mandates to fight COVID vaccine madness on college campuses that continue to this day at 86-88 colleges including Harvard, Johns Hopkins and Rutgers. Thank you for sharing the details of your story which brought me so much joy, peace and hope. Best wishes to you!
You’re ahead of the game. You are listening to your soul. Read James Hollis: Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life.
Weird family. Seems their pursuit of their own “happiness “ leaves other family members holding the bag, emotional and financial. If that is OK within your family, so be it.
I hope you think a tad more when your pursuit of your life’s “dreams” has a wake that traps others in the chaos.
I hope Mom doesn't get stuck with the tax bill for this one.
I have twin sons who are 16 your piece made me cry. May God bless you and your land, Max.
Max, this is brilliant. Read it with tears in my eyes, then read it to my wife, who had tears in her eyes, then we talked for two hours about our own lives relative to what you’d revealed of yours. Just a lovely, transformative piece of work, and as a side note, my mind boggles that you have this wisdom, perspective, and writing skill at 23. Hats off, and thank you.
Good lord I found myself moved to tears in three separate moments of this piece.
So beautifully written. Your farm sounds sensational. I’m so sorry for all you have lost but congratulations on your farm and your NOW.
Listen to Victor Davis Hanson’s podcast. He has many tales of small farming.
How do you work in Austin and have a farm in Iowa?
I'm so grateful for this story, Max. It was beautiful grief (and retail addiction) therapy for me. Thank you for sharing. Welcome to Austin!
Thank you for sharing this story. I conpletely understand this.
I am so sorry for your losses. My mother was an alcoholic and committed suicidal also. I think the stupidest purchase I made was to buy a car when I didn’t know how to drive. Blessings on your life, Max. Thank you for your article. It warmed my heart.
This was such an honest and poignant essay. So sorry for the loss of your brother and your father. I enjoyed reading this because not many are courageous enough to be this honest. There are commenters on here passing judgement out of concern for your mother - passing judgement on you, your father, etc. for her sacrifices.
The way I read your essay you are in some small way acknowledging some compassion for your father - what would have driven him to buy the boat. You acknowledge the sacrifices your mother made.
And the loss of your brother to remind us how short life is.
I hope you enjoy your farm - whether you keep it or not in the long run, don't accept judgement and criticism from people - I don't think you bought it for others to sacrifice for it but to live out dreams your family hasn't been able to live out.
By the way - I've been around some incredibly successful business people and I can tell you that behind many success stories there are also "stupid" risks, purchases and failed dreams in between. And the biggest success story I know of personally was driven by a man who lived out his father's dream - to vindicate his losses. This is your story that you are courageous enough to share.
Beautiful Max as are you