This is the most joyful day that ever I saw in my pilgrimage on earth. – Donald Cargill

Great thought for the day.

So much of how we feel about life is determined by our internal thoughts.

What if we could think this thought each day?

What if we could look at each day as if it was the most joyful day we’ve ever seen?

No guarantees, but I bet our days would turn out better if we started with this thought.

There’s a lot to be thankful for.

There’s joy to be found (even in the darkest of times to continue the thought from yesterday).

We have a tremendous capacity for love, joy and hope.

We just have to look for it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The old daily attitude email below seemed appropriate to resend now since we are watching these at home and right now seems like a good time to turn on the light.

“The minute you get away from fundamentals – whether it’s proper technique, work ethic or mental preparation – the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.” – Michael Jordan

We watched the beginning of the new series “The Last Dance” on Sunday. So far it hasn’t disappointed.

I went in search of a quote from Michael and found this one that seemed appropriate now.

Even though we’re working remotely, social distancing and living life differently – don’t get away from your fundamentals.

Be kind.

Serve others.

Work hard.

Tell your loved ones you love them.

Be a good teammate.

Do your work right the first time, every time.

Eat well.

Exercise.

Whatever your fundamentals are – stick with them. Don’t let things slack. Don’t take it easy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We’ve been watching the Harry Potter movies lately, it reminded me of this email from DAE’s past….

Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light. – Albus Dumbledore

Maggie has been reading a few of the Harry Potter books lately and so we watched some of the first movie over the weekend.

The books and movies do such a great job of taking you into a different world.

But they also do a great job of weaving in universal truths like the one from the quote above.

We can take inspiration and encouragement from the Harry Potter series.

If you aren’t already, I would encourage you to pick up a fiction book or book series.

Learn lessons and hone your personal philosophy by comparing it to the imagined world you are reading about.

Weigh their choices as if they were your own.

Face their fears as if they were yours.

Be inspired by their success.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/oODllqrxrLQ

Heard this one on the radio the other day and it made me think about current events.

It’s a reminder to be thankful for the solid things we do have in our lives.

Our friends and families.

If we’re lucky enough to have meaningful work that pays a good salary.

Our health.

The home we are sheltered in place in.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Bonus song for those of who went to Sunday school and vacation school and learned this one:

https://youtu.be/Eu5bBDRpzPM

Never mind what others do; do better than yourself, beat your own record from day to day, and you are a success. – William J. H. Boetcker

We all already know that there is no use in comparing ourselves to others.

The idea of “keeping up with the Jones’s” is something most of us know not to try to do.

But, we still get tempted.

Jealousy still rears its ugly head.

Focus on setting your own goals. Focus on what is meaningful to you.

Break your own records. Forget what everyone else is doing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” – Walter Winchell

I was trying to find a good quote to honor my good friend Erik on his big birthday today and came across this one.

It seemed particularly appropriate given all of our current circumstances.

The world’s gone a little crazy.

We’ve been stuck at home with little contact.

We’re going to come out of it to a new normal.

It might feel like the rest of the world has walked out.

But the real friends will be there after. For the part where we all walk out into the bright sunshine one morning and get to work on building a new normal together.

I’m glad to have Erik as a real friend (as well as many others on this list).

I’m thankful for him and for you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Sunday would have been Master’s Sunday, but it has been postponed until November. I have been reminded a few times on social media about Tiger’s big win last year and so I wanted to resend the daily attitude email from last year about it as well.

Yesterday I watched most of the final round of The Masters (golf tournament) on the line.

In the end, Tiger Woods completed one of sports all time greatest comeback stories by winning after his fall from grace and many injuries that have kept him off his game for a long time.

What struck me most was the crowd’s reaction.

They celebrated.

They cheered.

They forgave.

Tiger is an imperfect champion who has done things most people would have a hard time forgiving.

But the crowd was with him. They forgave his transgressions and welcomed his show of excellence.

It seemed fitting to me that this would happen the Sunday before Easter.

God has done the same thing for all of us.

He knows all the little faults and transgressions. Each of them feels to Him as egregious as anything Tiger has done.

And yet….

Anytime we show up for Him with excellence he stands and cheers. Chants our name. Tears of joy cover His face.

At least that’s how I imagine it.

He’s a fan of the best of version of you. As if you were the only one playing the game.

Watching the crowd treat Tiger like that reminded me just how lucky I am to know a God that feels the same for me.

If you think I’ve taken too much a leap here in connecting all this to God (that seems like me), think instead about your closest loved ones.

Think about cheering like that for them.

Think about performing for them in a way that deserves cheering.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project not to snatch people away from earth to heaven but to colonize earth with the life of heaven. That, after all, is what the Lord’s Prayer is about.” ― N.T. Wright

I don’t know about you, but I think I needed Easter more than usual this year.

It has been a rough start to the year. I had lots to complain about. Things weren’t going my way. Stress levels were out of the normal range.

I’ve been seeking a path to turning the page and trying to look forward with hope the last couple of weeks. Not even really realizing that Easter was on the way.

The first Easter was at the early church’s darkest moment. Their leader had been killed. He was not to become the King they had hoped for. They were sad, scared and hopeless.

Out of that darkness came the resurrection. The bright, shining sun leading the path towards the future, full of hope and joy.

I’m going to work to make Easter that moment for me this year (and would love it if you joined me).

We’ve had a rough start.

We will move forward with faith, hope and joy.

We have a lot to be thankful for.

We can and will lean on each other and work together on a brighter future for all of us.

Who’s with me?

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/xUNqsfFUwhY

Annie’s birthday today so she got to pick the toe tapper.

Seems appropriate as most of the time Annie’s a little ray of sunshine.

As we celebrate Annie’s birthday today, I’m going to focus on all that I have to be thankful for (especially Annie).

We are in uncertain times.

Life feels hard and uneasy.

But we still have a lot to be thankful for.

Including the laughter and joy of a certain 11 year old little girl.

Celebrate something your thankful for today.

Make it a great day.

Jake