Everything popular is wrong. – Oscar Wilde

I’m not sure about “everything”, “most things” – maybe. It’s at the very least “some”.

We often fall into the trap of following the group. Trying to be popular and part of the in crowd.

So many movies have been made and books have been written about the dangers of trying to be popular.

We watch the movie and immediately know that those high schoolers in the movies are being foolish by chasing popularity.

And then we fall into the same trap – buying the stuff and doing the things we think will impress others.

Don’t do it! Don’t fall for the trap. It’s fool’s gold – fake and not real.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – the other side of this is the “just be yourself” advice. Which is better than trying to be popular. But if you’re a jerk, you should probably work on who you are first instead of embracing the jerk.

PSS – I’m sure at least one of you will want to listen to this song after thinking about the word popular – https://youtu.be/vDuBWmYBCwE?si=6LDy6qsRuNvepsUA

There’s no use doing a kindness if you do it a day too late. – Charles Kingsley

Couple of days in a row talking about kindness.

This one is a reminder to do it now.

Don’t let the sun go down without doing that kindness that you thought of.

Sometimes it’s awkward to go out on a limb to do something kind.

Lean into the awkward. Lean into taking action.

Make it a great day.

Jake

THE WIND and the Sun were disputing which was the stronger. Suddenly they saw a traveler coming down the road, and the Sun said: “I see a way to decide our dispute. Whichever of us can cause that traveler to take off his cloak shall be regarded as the stronger You begin.” So the Sun retired behind a cloud, and the Wind began to blow as hard as it could upon the traveler. But the harder he blew the more closely did the traveler wrap his cloak round him, till at last the Wind had to give up in despair. Then the Sun came out and shone in all his glory upon the traveler, who soon found it too hot to walk with his cloak on.

“KINDNESS EFFECTS MORE THAN SEVERITY.”

This story reminds me of the importance of a smile, a kind word and just generally being nice.

As we go about our lives and trying to accomplish our own goals we get to interact with others along the way. And how we treat them will determine how our lives turn out.

No one accomplishes anything of value without the help of others.

This story also reminds me of being a parent. I am definitely guilty of being the wind sometimes instead of being the sun.

But when I am the sun around them, boy does it make a difference.

Think about some of the relationships in your life and whether approaching things from a different angle just might do the trick.

Take a minute today to pick someone in your life and make a change from blowing like the wind to shining like the sun.

Make it a great day.

Jake

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. Aesop

Never forget that being kind always pays off.

Be kind to everyone who crosses your path today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/1AnSHYjQ3tc?si=2Aa2NdL0LZJhOI4w

Eyes on the sky, there will be a day
He will come and wipe our tears away
No more fear, no more pain
No more sorrow, sin or shame
The King is coming back again
A reign of love that will never end

Life is hard. Suffering and sorrow cannot be avoided.

Trouble and temptations lay around every corner, ready to grab us.

Depression, fear and anxiety overwhelm us and keep us prisoner.

But, in the end, good wins out. We can be a part of that if we can lean into God and His plans for us.

No more fear, pain, sorrow, sin or shame. A reign of love that will never end.

Sounds pretty good to me!

Make it a great day.

Jake

The absence of alternatives clears the mind marvelously. – Henry Kissinger

I heard about a study once to see how people would buy jelly under different circumstances. The first one was an entire aisle of many different kinds. The next option was just a few choices that were very straightforward. People bought more jelly in the second scenario.

In 2026 we are bombarded with options. We can buy so many different kinds of jelly that we just walk away confused and don’t buy anything.

When we limit our field of options – choices and priorities become clearer.

The lesson for our lives is to simplify our options whenever possible.

I’m convinced most people would be at least 16.2% happier if they could cut the number of choices they have to make in a day by at least 47.6%.

What can you cut out?

What will you be better off without?

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become" — James Clear

So much of life is piling up little victories.

One small decision after another until you become the type of person you wish to be.

Start small today – take one small action to move towards your dreams.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." — Maya Angelou

Jim Rohn says:

“Ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance is tragedy. Ignorance is devastation. Ignorance creates lack. Ignorance creates disease. Ignorance will shorten your life. Ignorance will empty your life and leave you with the husks, nothing to account for.”

We have to learn and grow so we can do better.

Not for ourselves and for our selfish desires. Not so we can look cooler, have more stuff or get what we want.

So we can serve better.

Our lives become better as we serve and love more. Not as we consume more.

What are you doing in your life so that you can know better and do better?

What are you reading?

What are you listening to?

What are you watching?

Choose wisely.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children. – Jessica Lange

What a great quote about motherhood.

I’ve never been a mother, but it seems to me that there is a magical moment (it happened with our three the moment they were born) where a mother stops being a regular person and starts being a mom.

A moment when a woman makes a decision to always put their little ones needs before their own, or at the very least realizes that that’s how it should be.

In this way, motherhood serves as an example of what human beings are capable of.

By placing the needs of their children first, mothers are capable of amazing things.

Getting very little sleep.

Always eating last.

Eyes in the back of their head.

Holding down two jobs.

Monumental acts of strength while protecting their children.

Mothers serve as proof of how great each of us can be when we live and love selflessly.

Make it a great day.

Jake ​

https://youtu.be/-wcjBU8zbdY

In this beautiful life there’s always some sorrow And It’s a double-edged knife, but there’s always tomorrow, oh, you know

It’s up to you now if you sink or swim

Just keep the faith that your ship will come in

It’s not so bad

One of Meaghan’s favorite songs is Ordinary Miracles – this song reminds me of that idea.

We will live mostly ordinary days.

We will sleep, eat, work, talk, etc. in a very "normal" way.

Therein lies our opportunity for triumph or sorrow.

We can use those days to develop habits that create a life of peace and joy or dismay and turmoil.

What we build in ourselves during those ordinary days determines how we show up on the extraordinary ones (those are guaranteed as well).

Make it a great day.

Jake