https://youtu.be/Z6VrKro8djw

And I’m on my way

I don’t know where I’m going

I’m on my way

I’m taking my time

But I don’t know where

Goodbye to Rosie, the queen of Corona

I’m sure we could all relate to those lines….

Make it a great day.

Jake

Our current struggles and difficulties remind me of some of the war stories I’ve read over the years.

I found this old daily attitude email I thought was worth sharing again.

“We are little flames poorly sheltered by frail walls against the storm of dissolution and madness, in which we flicker and sometimes almost go out…we creep in upon ourselves and with big eyes stare into the night…and thus we wait for morning.”

― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

“They are more to me than life, these voices, they are more than motherliness and more than fear; they are the strongest, most comforting thing there is anywhere: they are the voices of my comrades.”

― Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet on the Western Front

I’ve been reading “All Quiet on the Western Front” lately (probably time for a break from the war stories). It’s difficult reading.

These two quotes reminded me of the book.

One showing the madness that is war.

One showing the unique bonds forged in battle.

I’m not sure about you, but I have a hard time with the whole “maturity and not complaining” thing.

It’s all too easy to complain and moan about some small inconvenience in my life instead of being the mature, accountable, adult I should be.

But books like this tend to sober me up pretty well.

I’ve got it pretty good compared to a rat infested trench a hundred yards or so away from people shooting at me with machine guns and trying to drop shells on my head…..for months.

And those are the lucky ones….the unlucky ones are injured or dead.

And those are just the soldiers (thank God for soldiers).

What about the single mothers?

What about the cancer patients?

What about those with meaningful struggles of all kinds?

I’m thankful for the stories of real struggles shared over the years. They put my little problems into perspective.

Ending my little pity parties doesn’t seem quite noble enough an end for stories such as these, though, right?

In the end, I (and hopefully this is a we and I’m not the only one, if it’s just me, somebody tell me quick) must honor the sacrifices and struggles of others by doing our best to leave this place better than we found it. To make a difference for others through service with love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

When coaches or parents make consistency their foundation, everyone around them becomes more comfortable and every around them has an opportunity to grow. – John Wooden

This quote is aimed at helping parents and coaches, but I believe it applies to all relationships.

When we are consistent in how we interact with someone, they know what to expect. When they know what to expect, trust can grow. And trust is the foundation of a healthy relationship.

Maybe to take that metaphor further, consistency is the bricks or blocks that build that foundation of trust.

Think about a foundation built out of inconsistently sized and shaped bricks. Might not want to build a home on that one.

As you think about the relationships and life you want to build, think about the size and shape of those bricks of consistency.

Are you consistently honest or deceitful?

Are you consistently wise or foolish?

Are you consistently productive or lazy?

Are you consistently caring or selfish?

Those things we do consistently form the foundation on which everything else is built.

What kind of foundation are you building?

Make it a great day.

Jake

"God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created." – CS Lewis – “Mere Christianity” (1952)

I liked this quote because it reminded me of what Rick Warren says.

He pictures God sitting at the end of our bed every morning saying “I can’t wait until he/she gets up. I can’t wait to see what they do today.”

To me, the best part of this is exactly what CS Lewis is talking about.

We are all equal.

We are all wonderfully and uniquely created.

Having this attitude frees us to be so much better to each other and ourselves.

To have more patience when things go wrong.

To expect the best from each and every one of us.

To not get so mad when the best doesn’t come.

When thinking about this I try to start at home. I imagine myself sitting on the end of the bed waiting for Meaghan to wake up, thinking that I can’t wait to see what she will do today. I imagine the same thing for the kids.

I try to expand that circle throughout the day. Co workers, customers, vendors, waiters, drivers, cashiers, anyone that comes across my path.

I fall far short of having this attitude all the time (like CS Lewis says….it requires infinite attention, which I don’t have), but the more I can do it, the better my day goes.

Try it out today. Even if just for one person.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"The Shortcut to Contentment"

Comparison drops you at the dead-end of discontentment every single time. Whether you come out on top and feel guilty, or don’t measure up and feel short-changed, comparison always leaves you dissatisfied.

But there’s a secret to overcoming it: gratitude. The shortcut to contentment is thanking God, and it works no matter which side of comparison you’re on.

How? It’s an instant perspective adjustment. When comparison makes you feel short-changed, gratitude can shift your focus to all the blessings you do have. And when you’ve been blessed with a lot, thanking God puts you in the humble posture needed to use those gifts well.

Comparison is out to steal your contentment. But the habit of expressing gratitude is an easy way out of its trap. – Andy Stanley

Comparison is such a dangerous road to travel. Andy’s suggestion above is that the road is too narrow and isn’t worth the trip.

He suggests we skip it and instead take the road of gratitude.

We all have something to be thankful for.

In our darkest hour, there is a light shining somewhere.

Something to maybe add to Andy’s suggestion about being thankful. Tell someone.

Tell someone today that you are thankful for them, or even just tell them something you are thankful for.

Just tell someone.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/c6rP-YP4c5I

I wanna try even though I could fail

I won’t give up, no I won’t give in

Till I reach the end

And then I’ll start again

No I won’t leave

I wanna try everything

I wanna try even though I could fail

I don’t know about you, but I fail. A lot.

In my old age, I am trying hard to see this as a positive.

It’s only when we let comfort and the status quo take over that we really fail.

We can’t experience the great things in life without trying new things and putting ourselves out there.

Sure, it can be painful. And nobody likes to fail.

But it’s worth it.

Growth and positive momentum requires failure.

What’s something new you could try this weekend?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Looking for something to try….how about dancing?

https://youtu.be/ru0K8uYEZWw

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” ― Fred Rogers

Such a great thought for the scary times we’re in.

In the midst of all the uncertainties and fear – there are people helping.

Nurses, doctors, first responders come first to mind.

But there are also the people still working at Wal-Mart, etc. to get groceries out to all of us.

And Mavidea’s on the list too.

We’re helping our customers through a tough time. Helping them still get work done and communicate with their customers.

In every crisis there are positives.

A big one for me during this crisis has been how our team has responded. Everyone has stepped up and offered to help in whatever way they can.

Our clients are receiving help.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The difficulties and challenges we are facing now reminded me of an earlier daily attitude email I sent a few years back:

https://www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org/do-your-worst-well-do-our-best.html

This is a Winston Churchill speech that is particularly poignant on the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Two quotes in particular stood out to me:

“But there was one thing about which there was never any doubt. The courage, the unconquerable grit and stamina of our people, showed itself from the very outset. Without that all would have failed. Upon that rock, all stood unshakable.”

In the face of all the evils of the world we must have faith and belief that courage, grit and stamina from those on the side of good will win out. No matter the test, no matter the difficulty, that which is good and worthy will prevail.

“You do your worst – and we will do our best.”

When faced with the evils of the world it can be tempting to lower ourselves to those standards. Instead we need to raise ours.

The best way for us to honor those who have fallen and those who have sacrificed is to do and be our best. Others have given up their lives that we may have the opportunity to exercise this freedom. Don’t let it slip by.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps because I am afraid, and he gives me courage. – The Hobbit

One of the overarching themes in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings series is that a small person, pure in heart, can make a difference – maybe even THE difference in how things turn out.

As we face very real and difficult challenges right now, I hope and pray that we can all remember this principal.

The little things matter.

How we treat each other on the team conference call matters.

How we treat the worried client matters.

How we work with vendors struggling to keep up matters.

We are being asked to hold the line against the evils of the world. To hold at bay the negativity, fear, hopelessness and despair. To keep ourselves and our teammates from falling prey to the temptation to give up or give in.

I’m sure this all sounds a bit grandiose for a little IT company and truck shop in Bloomington/Normal – and maybe it is (I don’t think so), but I don’t believe that for a second. What we do and how we do it matters. Now more than ever. How we get through this – together – matters. It’s important. And so is the work you are doing every day.

We have the opportunity to serve our clients and each other – with love and hope and faith and optimism in the face of difficulty.

Let’s embrace the opportunity and do our best.

Make it a great day.

Jake

If you are unwilling to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary. – Jim Rohn

Ordinary. Normal. Everybody else is doing it.

We have all wished for or strived for these things at one point or another. Whether it be to fit in or to feel loved or to relieve some of our own insecurities and anxieties; we purposefully looked for and strived for normal and ordinary.

One of the great tragedies of life is coming to the end of it having not lived all of it. Having not been the most truest version of you possible.

The scary part is that the best version of you is NOT normal. Not even close.

In fact, I would venture to say that the potential of our inherent abilities is so overwhelmingly different that we get a little scared. A little scared to live out the life uniquely set before us.

We must be willing to risk unusual or settle for ordinary.

We choose. Life doesn’t choose for us.

What’s your choice?

Make it a great and unusual day.

Jake