My grandfather di:ed alone in a small Ohio hospital while my parents called him “difficult” and stayed home….

He did not ask if I was sure. He did not ask if I knew it could be dangerous. He did not ask whether my parents approved. He simply asked why. It was one of the most respectful questions anyone had ever asked me.

“Because if I’m going to do something hard, I want it to mean something.”

He studied me for a long moment. Then he nodded.

“Good reason. A lot of people choose hard things because they mistake pain for purpose. Don’t run from something. Run toward something.”

I carried those words through boot camp. I carried them through every hard thing after.