The foothills community lost a local legend last month, and it was a huge blow for everyone who knew him. And an unimaginable loss for his family. Our sincere condolences go out to them and all who loved John Ellis. 

I met John soon after I moved to Evergreen, and I have the same story as most everyone else does from their first meeting with him: He was the most welcoming, jolly human I had ever run into. I marveled at his ebullient demeanor and how he made everyone feel like they had just made a new friend. And he was a great friend to have, because whenever you would run into him again, he would take you under his wing and introduce you to more people. I marveled at his ability to naturally network, and he probably never thought of it in such technical terms as that. He was just doing what he loved to do: connect people. I think he genuinely loved people and watching them get to know one another. He was all about community; our community—the one he grew up in and loved. 

In short, after spending time with John, you came away inspired. Inspired to do more, be more or try something new. Mostly, inspired to be more like John. And writing about him has inspired me to print this list I came upon recently: 

20 Sentences I Wish I’d Read Sooner In Life 

1. Action is the antidote to anxiety. 

2. You get 4,000 weeks if you’re lucky. Stop waiting. 

3. Notice the people who bring out your favorite version of yourself. 

4. You teach people how to treat you by what you tolerate. 

5. Growth happens when you do things you feel unqualified to do. 

6. The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek. 

7. If you don’t schedule your priorities, someone else will. 

8. The most dangerous addiction is the approval of other people. 

9. Burnout happens when you treat rest as a reward rather than a right. 

10. You’ll never regret investing in your health, learning or relationships. 

11. Normalize not having an opinion on things you aren’t informed on. 

12. The only person who’s going to magically show up to save you is you. 

13. Your habits are the silent architects of your life. 

14. Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want now. 

15. The people who matter won’t leave you for having boundaries. 

16. Your worth isn’t tied to your productivity. 

17. Reach out to people just because they crossed your mind. 

18. Not everything requires your reaction. Silence is a response too. 

19. Action creates motivation; not the other way around 

20. You can actually change your life any day. You can wake up tomorrow and decide that you want something different.