Love is the only gold. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

Today is Meaghan’s birthday.

Each year I’m tempted to write some kind of sappy, gushing love note about how awesome Meaghan is and how much I love her, but resist when I realize that would be the opposite of what she would really want on her birthday.

Instead, I went in search of a quote about love that reminded me of her.

Love is the only thing of value.

Not just the love of a husband for his wife, but the love of others.

Being in love for all these years has taught me that love is the starting point for all the meaning in our lives.

Seek out love. Fill your heart with it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it. – Dumbledore

Our words do have some magic in them.

In Harry Potter words have literal magic and create explosions, transformations and other impactful changes.

In our world their magic isn’t quite so obvious and immediate most of the time, but the effects are just as powerful.

Watch what words you choose. Both with yourself and with others.

Pay attention to the results you are creating through the words you choose.

If you want to see different results, begin choosing different words.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” – Martin Luther King Jr.

One of the persistent themes that flows throughout speeches and quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. was that of service.

He seemed to understand that service to others was part of the path to prosperity that he and the people he led were seeking.

Think about the situation though.

They were persecuted, belittled, beaten and mistreated in every way possible. It would have been difficult to live in that environment and have your thoughts be focused on serving others.

But he knew that love and service would win out. He knew that the only way to rise above it all was to be better than their oppressors.

As we think about Martin Luther King Jr. let’s remember to focus on service to others regardless of our current circumstances. It is the sure path to victory and happiness in the long run.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/btPJPFnesV4

This feels like a good song for where we are with COVID right now.

Some times in life you just have to buckle down and ride out the hard times.

This too shall pass.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“The healthiest response to life is joy.” — Deepak Chopra

What if this was true?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Joy is the serious business of Heaven. – C. S. Lewis

CS Lewis wrote a book titled – “Surprised by Joy”.

A major premise being that joy is something we are surprised by. Not something to held on to tightly but something to look for – out of the corner of your eye, in the right place and at the right time.

Those moments when nature or someone surprises you when you weren’t expecting it.

Put yourself in a position to be “surprised by joy”.

Spend time outside.

Call an old friend.

Pray.

Hug a loved one tight.

Write about something your thankful for.

Tell somebody you are thankful for them.

And then maybe do it again?

Make it a great day.

Jake

If the highest aim of a captain were to preserve his ship, he would keep it in port forever. – Thomas Aquinas

The highest aim is not preservation alone.

The Bible tells the story of the talents. The one who buried his and didn’t put it to work was the one was reprimanded.

Where do you need to take on some risk?

Where do you need to be using your talents?

What would this year look like if you took a few, wise chances?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. – William James

Great reminder for a Monday morning.

This week matters.

The small, incremental steps you take this week are leading you towards something.

Little adjustments can lead to big results in the long run.

Pay attention.

Make the small changes.

You’re worth it.

It makes a difference.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/WMweEpGlu_U

Positive thought for the day – you’re totally smooth like butter.

Today’s going to go great.

You’re going to feel good, look good and do good.

It’s gon’ be awesome.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. – Rabindranath Tagore

I’m trying to make “joy” a central theme for myself this year.

This quote is a good reminder that joy comes through service.

Look for the opportunity to serve.

Make it a great day.

Jake