Annie was signing this one at dinner last night and it reminded me of a Toe Tapper from a few years ago.

https://youtu.be/lWtTdRmSrYQ

What a great reminder for us all. Everybody is a bit of a fixer-upper.

And the way to fix things up is with love.

Each of us was once a baby full of all the endless possibilities that come packed into a human life.

But along the way we made a series of good and bad choices.

We had a series of good and bad relationships.

We made good and bad food and exercise choices.

We made good and bad financial decisions.

And along the way we all became a bit of a fixer-upper.

Embrace the fixer-upper in all of us. Liberally apply all the love you have on the fixer-uppers in your life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Be the change that you want to see in the world." Mohandas Gandhi

Becoming a better person, a whole different person, requires change for most of us.

One of the hardest areas to work on for me has been looking outside myself for the things that need to change. Looking at others and seeing areas they should change.

That driver in front of me needs to drive better.

Congress needs to pass better laws.

Taxes need to be lower.

Other people need to post more positive comments on FaceBox

In order to see the changes I want to see in my life, I need to first “Be the change that I want to see in the world.”

Remember that the results of your life are a “merciless mirror” reflecting back to you what kind of a person you are. All of the treasures you have accumulated are in direct proportion to the development on your own character.

Challenge yourself.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

Make it a great week.

Jake

A daily attitude from a few years ago…a little harsh, but maybe that’s what I needed today.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Will Durant

I heard an author yesterday talking about habits. She used the example of brushing our teeth.

In comparison to your other goals, how does brushing your teeth compare?

Do you make compromises with yourself? I’ll brush my teeth today, but not tomorrow (gotta give my teeth a chance to breath – that was for the Gaffigan fans).

Do you come up with reasons to put it off? I’ll brush my teeth tomorrow, but today I’m going to take it easy.

Do you rationalize away the need to brush your teeth? Carpe diem! Life’s too short for petty little stuff, who has time to brush their teeth!

All of our excuses and rationalizing seem pretty lame when compared to brushing our teeth.

Changing our perspective sometimes help us realize that we’ve been fooling ourselves.

From the perspective of teeth brushing –

How do you feel about your reasons for not eating well?

How do you feel about your reasons for not exercising?

How do you feel about your reasons for not saving money?

It’s the same thing. The excuses are just as lame and weak.

If this struck a cord – do something about it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance. – Will Durant

And wow have I proven to be ignorant…

Part of what makes education and learning harder as we get older is we’ve let our egos get a little too wrapped up in what we know.

It’s hard to admit we’re ignorant.

We let questions go unasked and unanswered to avoid looking dumb.

We hold back and let opportunities pass by in order to avoid starting anew to learn something different.

Lean into learning.

Make it a great day.

Jake

He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home. – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Today we head home from a quick trip to the Dells.

It’s always so good to be home after a trip. To sleep in my own bed and be in familiar (mostly peaceful) surroundings.

Jordan Peterson talks about optimizing the little interactions throughout your day – wake up, leaving in the morning, coming home in the evening, etc.

He talks about the power of making sure these interactions leave your loved ones and home in a positive light.

What can you do today to add more peace to your home?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Vacation to the Dells this weekend so I found this message from a few years ago…

https://youtu.be/2RHTiXvELNg

Couldn’t resist sending this one out while on vacation.

Can’t help remembering all of the mishaps and misfortune that happens during the movie.

It happens to all of us on family vacation – tempers run short, we get on each other’s nerves, things don’t go as planned….and yet we manage to create some fun family memories.

It’s hard to do in the moment, but the goal is to take a deep breath and focus on the good stuff.

Sounds like a good plan for every day….

Make it a great day.

Jake

The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident. – Francesco Guicciardini

The law of sowing and reaping is fundamental to our experience.

The hard part about it is that the sowing and reaping don’t always happen close enough to each to be obvious.

We could spend our lives living generously and not ever see the results.

Faith is required.

Faith that it will all be worth it in the end.

Faith that will all work for the best.

Faith that ideas like love, generosity, hope, and patience will win out.

Make up your mind to be faithful in your generosity (and love, etc.).

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is my mom’s birthday.

I’m so thankful for the support my parents have offered me. As I get older it becomes obvious how few of the good things in my life are really of my own doing.

We all have built our lives on those that came before us.

Some of us in good ways, some not so good ways.

But no one does it alone.

Let’s someone special to you know that they’ve been a part of your journey.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending the daily attitude email I sent out ten years ago today. Maggie was 5….hard to believe how quickly it has gone.

“The Pledge of Allegiance starts with “I” and ends with “all.” That’s what America is all about – “I” (individual) and “all” (all of us). When all of us understand how valuable each of us is, that’s powerful. And here’s what else is powerful: When each of us understands how powerful all of us are.” — Jim Rohn

As I sat with Maggie watching the fireworks last night, I was thinking about how many others were celebrating the 4th at the same time. All across America yesterday there were parents and kids, friend and relatives, husbands and wives; all celebrating this great nation of ours.

It was great to feel that sense of community with everyone. As human beings we have this need to feel like part of a community and holidays and celebrations like the 4th are great opportunities to embrace that community and enjoy it.

I am so very thankful for that community and everything it has offered me and my family.

I hope you had a great 4th as well.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/siwpn14IE7E

We took the girls to watch the new Top Gun movie last weekend.

It’s been fun as the kids have gotten older to share and connect with them over movies, books and shows we watched when were kids.

Stories are a great way to connect and create shared meaning and memories.

Find a way this long weekend to create some stories, meaning and memories with those you love.

Make it a great day.

Jake