“Life is a journey not a destination,” is a phrase that I use a lot and is one of my personal mantras. Sometimes our journey takes different twists and turns, but if we stay focused on the present and enjoy where we are, we can learn to live with anything that we encounter on our path.
My life journey over the past five years has been filled with many joys and such blessings in getting to know the Fraternity, becoming a Mason and serving as the CEO of the Ohio Masonic Home(OMH). Words cannot do justice to the feelings I have about the past five years. Sometimes however, those twists I just mentioned happen, and we need to adjust our path, but keep heading true North. That is the current situation in which I find myself. Due to personal health circumstances, I find myself needing to step aside and retire as CEO of Your Ohio Masonic Home. Please know that I will be fine but only if I stop working full-time and slow down my pace in life. Thus, I need to make this difficult decision.
The difficulty in this decision is that I love what I do in my vocation with aging individuals, and I found over the past five years the organization with which I love to do it. Knowing that if I continue will have a detrimental effect on my life and health is difficult, but makes it necessary to step aside. I will continue to be a part of OMH in a coaching and consulting role over the next months ahead for a few days per month. Scott Buchanan, our current CFO will be my successor as CEO of this fine organization.
There is a line in one of my favorite songs by Bob Seger that says, “I see their faces, I feel the traces they’ve left on my soul.” To all of you I have worked with and for, you have all left traces on my soul that I will carry with me forever.
Peace, love and enjoy the journey my Brothers, families and friends.
Brother Tom Stofac, CEO
Ohio Masonic Home
