It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. – Epictetus

This quote is something we all know but also easily forget.

It’s easy to get caught up in worrying about what has happened and what will happen instead of focusing on what is right in front of us.

It’s also possible to control our attitude regardless of the circumstances.

It begins with filling our minds with positive thoughts.

Fill your mind today positive thoughts about the situations you find yourself in.

You won’t be perfect, just try to do better than yesterday.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Recently Mike and Jamie Somers had their baby (Atalie).

Since then I have been reminded of this email I sent when another Mavidea baby was born.

https://youtu.be/MjF1bG5LUcs

Since it is Meaghan’s birthday today I had to send out the Beatle’s Birthday song.

It’s a great example of Meaghan’s positive influence in my life.

I didn’t even know this song existed until it got played by Meaghan on one of our birthdays.

Our life together has been full of little things like this, and I will be eternally grateful to Meaghan for all the little “adds” she’s brought into my life.

Today, find a moment to remember a few little “adds” that others have brought into your life and thank them.

Maybe it’s that food you never would have tried but now love.

Maybe it’s that show that you both love.

Maybe it’s that author that inspired you both.

Maybe it’s a song that takes you back to a special time and place.

Whatever it is, be thankful for it and tell them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – I’m thankful for Meaghan!

Tomorrow is Meaghan’s birthday, so I am resending this daily attitude email from her birthday last year.

Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! – Dr. Seuss

Since today is Meaghan’s birthday it seemed appropriate to share one of my favorite Dr. Seuss quotes from “The Birthday Book.”

Birthdays are a great chance to celebrate all of the great things that make someone special.

For those of you who don’t know, Meaghan is the MOST special.

Being married to Meaghan is one of the best things to ever happen to me and her birthday is a great reminder of just how lucky I am.

In the hope of not turning this into an email about the many reasons that Meaghan is the coolest I’ll share a lesson I’ve learned from hanging around her for all these years.

Loving her makes me want to do and be better.

Part of the reason love is so powerful is that we are motivated to move beyond ourselves.

Seek this out in your life.

Make it a point to look for love. To look for more opportunities to love others.

It’s out there. I’m convinced of it.

Looking for it is the first step.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Get excited that you can make yourself do the little things that will change your life. – Jim Rohn

I was listening to a talk from a former Navy SEAL talking about how motivation comes and goes. Feelings come and go. But discipline can be built and can always be there.

Jim Rohn shares the same message.

Discipline can be built.

One small step at a time.

Get excited about the opportunity to do the little things that will change your life.

Start little.

Build confidence.

Get a streak going.

Make it a great day.

Jake

God is not ashamed of the lowliness of human beings. God marches right in. He chooses people as his instruments and performs his wonders where one would least expect them. God is near to lowliness; he loves the lost, the neglected, the unseemly, the excluded, the weak and broken. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

And thank God that he does, otherwise he might not have much to work with.

I’m thankful for and often surprised that someone (or multiple someones) would read these daily emails from me.

I’m far from perfect.

In fact, I have quite a lot to work on.

Each day is a reminder that without God’s help, I would not be able to get very far.

Each day is also a reminder that with God’s help I can’t lose.

I don’t have to be perfect or brilliant or handsome or whatever.

My job is to be the best version of me, doing whatever God asks of me.

My job is to lean in to the small whispers that say “try this” or “say that” or “go here”.

My hope is that when I do, I lighten the load of another – even the tiniest bit counts.

My hope is that you can do the same.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this previous post in honor of Martin Luther King Day tomorrow.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well. – Martin Luther King Jr.

This is one of my favorite quotes.

Not only because of the truth and inspiration we can gain from it, but also because of the example set by the person who said it.

Imagine living in that time, amidst all of that tension and strife, and having the strength of character to tell people to sweep streets as if they were sweeping the streets of heaven.

His audience was quite literally living through hell on earth and he inspired them to be and do their best in every scenario.

This message seems particularly appropriate this election and political season.

Take this message to heart today (and every day).

Do your best with what is in front of you.

Love and serve those around you with all you’ve got.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/IFuFm0m2wj0

We watched “Trolls” quite a few times over Christmas break.

This song is a great reminder.

Don’t quit.

Get back up again.

Never let those ideas leave you as you work on those 2018 goals.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nobody escapes being wounded. We are all wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. The main question is not ‘How can we hide our wounds?’ so we don’t have to be embarrassed, but ‘How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?’ When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers. – Henri Nouwen

This quote reminded me of why our “attitude” is so important.

The difference between the two attitudes described is night and day.

One leads to a life of shame and regret, the other to fulfillment and meaning.

We are all imperfect.

We are all wounded.

We all have a choice about how to respond.

My hope for you today is that you choose to use your imperfections and wounds to serve others. Not in a general sense, but in a real and specific way. Today. Not some time in the future after you get it all sorted out.

Reach out.

Be a friend.

Be of service to someone.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The person who can bring the spirit of laughter into a room is indeed blessed. – Bennett Cerf

Make it a point to try to make somebody laugh today.

Bring a spirit of laughter everywhere you go.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There’s two fish in a tank. One turns to the other and says

‘You man the guns, I’ll drive’