We officially have a teenager in the house – Maggie turned 13 on Saturday.

We had a lot to celebrate, Maggie is a great kid.

It was another reminder of how precious our time together really is.

It feels like we’re at the top of a roller coaster about to head down the speedy, winding path of what is hopefully as awesome ride that (hopefully) “ends” with Maggie out on her own in the world being the best version of herself possible.

Even though it will go quickly, I was reminded to enjoy the moments.

Even the hard ones.

We are all given precious few years on Earth to do and become our best.

It’s easy to get worried about the future or brood over the past, but we must do our best to be in and find joy in the moments have now, right now.

Enjoy today. Enjoy these precious moments. They won’t last forever.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/J3UXp9jIr-U

The basic idea of this song (I need you here with me) got me thinking.

It sure does feel good when someone expresses this to us, doesn’t it?

Someone who knows us and our faults and still chooses to spend time with us – enjoys it even….

When I hear something like this or am reminded of what makes me feel good, I try to turn it around and do that same thing for someone else.

Tell someone today that they are special to you.

Tell them why.

Show them.

Work to give them that feeling of being someone who is worth it. Worth your time, effort, talents, and love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Give yourself time to be sad, frustrated and angry. Give yourself time to heal, accept and to grow. Time doesn’t erase anything, but it can provide you with enough space to be able to breathe again. And then one day you wake up and your heart has a little bit of sunshine in it. – Jessica Jensen

Jim Rohn talks about how life needs all the musical notes.

The high notes and the low notes.

Only high notes sounds a little funny.

Only low sounds funny too.

Mix them together and you get something magical.

Finding our way through all of the highs and lows while keeping our head up is an art unto itself.

Keep your head up today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. – Henry Ward Beecher

Tony Robbins talks a lot about raising your standards.

We get what we accept.

Mentally run through some of the major areas of your life, anything that needs some raised standards?

You deserve it.

Your team deserves it.

Your family deserves it.

You have everything you need.

There are no excuses.

Get started.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/m5yCOSHeYn4

Yesterday’s Kid President video led to this one playing on my YouTuber so I thought we could all use another dose of Kid President.

It’s interesting to think about the majority of this list….

I’m sorry.

I forgive you.

Thank you.

We get lost in the hustle and bustle of the day, fighting to “get ours” and we forget simple, pleasant interactions and phrases that make a difference.

One of my biggest disappointments is when I let myself get so rushed and hurried that I forget to “chat up” the service people I meet along the way.

When I didn’t even say please or thank you to the waitress, then I know I’ve got to slow down.

Life isn’t about me and my rush.

Life is about my contribution to the lives of those I interact with.

If I’m not even slowing down enough to be nice and pleasant, then I’m getting it wrong.

Slow down a little today. Pick something from the list from Kid President and make sure it gets said today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – 18. Here is a surprise corndog I bought you because you’re my friend.

https://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o

No better way to start a Monday than with a solid pep talk.

Enjoy.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/KtBbyglq37E

A thought that I try to keep on a constant loop is to say a little prayer for someone.

The waitress.

The teller at the bank.

The customer who just cancelled.

The coworker.

Donald Trump.

Joe Biden.

I work to send out positive thoughts and prayers for those who cross my path and my mind.

The more I do it, the better my day goes.

I’m not sending this to prove how nice or mature I am. I sending it as a reminder to myself. And hopefully a helpful thought for you too.

It’s a reminder that everyone is in need of prayer.

And that the more we pray, the better things go.

Make it a great day.

Jake

People only see what they are prepared to see. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Our perspective matters.

Most of us have a heightened awareness when it comes to the negative.

We’re quick to notice when things don’t go our way.

To notice the areas of life where we fall short.

Thank God that we are capable of reprogramming that kind of thinking.

Try it out today.

If you’re already good at it, take it up a notch.

Notice all the good around you.

Take note of the wonder all around you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Found this email from a few years ago. We have 3 (mostly) joyful children now….

Friendly reminder to find some joy today – and hold on to it.

Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller

For those of you that don’t know, Meaghan and I are blessed with two of the most joyful children in the world (I might be a little partial on this one).

On Sunday, Maggie and I sat down for a minute to watch a little football. We stopped on the Green Bay and St. Louis game. Maggie immediately decided to cheer for the Packers because they were already winning (she’s smart like her mom, but apparently not as much of a Bears fan as her mom).

A minute later I heard a "whoohoo!" from the other room. Maggie came into the kitchen and said "I cheered just that once for the St. Louis team. I didn’t want them to feel bad that we weren’t cheering them on."

All of this was said while jumping, skipping and smiling her way to the kitchen and back.

In that moment I got a little glimpse of true joy. Forget about who is winning or losing, let’s just cheer because it is fun to cheer.

So, why did I share this little story and the quote above in a daily attitude email?

Just to brag on our little Maggie and Annie? No, but that was a pleasant side effect.

The point was to remind us. Remind all of us of that joy of childhood. To remind us of how good for our souls a little joy is. Remind us that with joy we can "form an invincible host against difficulties".

Make it a great day.

Jake

Bonus thought for us "God people" that get this email. All of this reminded me of one of my favorite little pick me up thoughts:

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Sports do not build character. They reveal it. – Heywood Broun

So much of life is an opportunity to reveal our character….

Sports.

Marriage.

Parenting.

Work.

Each day we have a chance to be our best self. To perform at our highest level.

Make it a great day.

Jake