Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects. – Will Rogers

I really like simple ideas like this that illustrate how our thinking might be flawed.

Beating yourself up because you didn’t know something, maybe it’s time to realize that you are/were just ignorant on that subject.

Really struggling with something, maybe you are ignorant now and some learning and growth are required.

Dealing with someone who just “doesn’t seem to get it”, maybe they are ignorant of a few important facts that would make all the difference.

We tend to judge ourselves and others a little harshly in this area. Expecting ourselves and others to not be ignorant.

Recognize where you don’t know.

Recognize that others don’t know.

Plan for it.

Take care of it.

Move around it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

In spite of unseasonable wind, snow

and unexpected weather of all sorts –

a gardener still plants.

And tends what they have planted …

believing that Spring will come.

– Mary Anne Radmacher

On a cold, snowy and blowy morning this quote seemed appropriate.

Faith. We all must take certain things with faith.

That spring will come.

That our efforts will pay off.

That if we keep it up it will be worth it.

It’s easy to lose faith in something.

Any time we work towards something bigger for our lives, we must work in faith.

Faith that it will all work out in the end.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Sounds like we have some winter coming. It reminds me of Jim Rohn and his explanation of winters as part of life’s natural flow.

https://youtu.be/QU333LmZ4CE

Jim starts by explaining that we can’t change the seasons of life. We can only change our response to the seasons.

Jim says “Learn how to handle the winters, they always come right after fall”

Jim goes on to say that there are all kind of winters.

The winter when you can’t figure it out.

The winter when it all goes smash.

Economic winters, social winters.

The winter when your heart is smashed into a thousand pieces.

No matter what kind of winter you may or may not be experiencing at any given point, it is important to remember that we all face winters in our life.

Jim says “When it was winter, I used to wish it was summer.” But then he realized that winter served its own purpose.

Winter is a time to do three things.

Get stronger. Get wiser. Get better.

This part about handling the winters of life is probably my favorite of the four seasons and his explanation of them. I think it made the most sense to me because I used to (at least I am trying to make it used to) complain about the winters in IL and think that wasn’t any good that came of the winter time.

Jim’s explanation of winter gave me a different perspective. We need to use winter as a time to get stronger, wiser, and better. It is a time to hone our skills so that we can take advantage of the next season…..spring.

Make it a great day.

Jake

To the mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders. – Lao Tzu

I once heard someone interviewed about meditation and she called it a “super power”.

Both mindfulness and meditation help us to understand how to calm and still our minds. To focus and harness the energy of our thoughts instead of allowing them to go in all directions.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not all that interested in getting the universe to surrender.

I’m not all that interested in having a super power.

I am in interested in things like: joy, peace, patience, self control, kindness, and goodness.

Each day is an opportunity to learn to train our minds to focus on the good.

To focus on being something better for those around us.

To use our joy, peace, patience, etc. to brighten the lives of those we encounter along life’s path.

To calm our minds and focus them on the real values of life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/pIgZ7gMze7A

This might be better for a Monday morning toe tapper.

Something happy and light and silly to start the day off.

Find your favorite happy, silly song and crank it up this morning.

Get yourself started off right.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Song selection by Maggie Davis

For the mind disturbed, the still beauty of dawn is nature’s finest balm. – Edwin Way Teale

Over the last few years I’ve come to appreciate time in nature more and more.

For some reason we were made to find some peace in the trees blowing in the wind, a beautiful sunset or a cool crisp morning.

I know it’s still cold out, but time outside is still needed for our comfort and peace.

Find an excuse to spend a few extra minutes outside over the next couple of days.

Go for a walk.

Park a little further away than normal.

Stand on your front porch for a few minutes.

Get up a little early and watch the sunrise.

It’ll be good for your soul.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment. – Tony Robbins

If you haven’t already, I recommend watching “I’m Not Your Guru” on Netflix.

Once you get past the brazenness and cursing, Tony shows what I believe to be his true intentions.

He wants to make an impact by increasing the impact that others make.

He does everything he can to rattle people’s cages so that they come out highly motivated to make an impact.

It’s all more complicated and interesting than my simple explanation, but I couldn’t help but think of those who receive this email every day.

His quote is true of you as well.

Your limits are self-imposed.

Any lack of commitment or imagination you have is of your own doing.

The flip side is also true – you can change your impact by growing your imagination and your commitment.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Individual commitment to a group effort–that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work. –Vince Lombardi

Jim Rohn says “it’s hard to find a rich hermit.”

Anything meaningful in life requires a team effort.

A great marriage.

A great friendship.

A great company.

All require team efforts built on trust and relationship.

Each day and each interaction with teammates is an opportunity to build trust and teamwork or pull further into our selfishness.

Each day we get to choose.

Focus on being a good teammate today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“The real things haven’t changed. It is still best to be honest and truthful; to make the most of what we have; to be happy with simple pleasures; and have courage when things go wrong.” — Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Meaghan and the girls have enjoyed reading all of the Little House on the Prairie books over the years.

While I haven’t read them, I’ve listened in enough to get the lesson above several times over.

Things change.

Technology moves at a rapid pace.

But the “real things” haven’t.

Focus on the real stuff today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/h24_zoqu4_Q

It seems appropriate for everyone to do the Cupid Shuffle today in honor of Valentine’s Day.

This song reminds me of weddings. When a bunch of people are dancing together and having fun.

Have some fun today.

Get a little silly.

Let loose a little.

Make it a great day.

Jake