https://youtu.be/pO40TcKa_5U

Heard this on the radio the other day and it got me thinking about all the “You gottas” in our lives.

You get to pick whether or not to listen to them.

You pick your own path.

Choose wisely.

Make it a great day

Jake

"Slow Me Down Lord"

Slow me down Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal march of time. Give me amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the eternal hills.

Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Help me to know the magical restoring power of sleep.

Teach me the art of taking MINUTE vacations, Of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines of a good book.

Slow me down Lord and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.

Author: Wilfred A. Peterson

Today is the longest day of the year.

For some reason the prayer above stuck out to me today.

Let this be a reminder to slow down a little.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased. – John Steinbeck

This quote goes well with summer vacation season.

The memories from our trips can instruct and fill us with joy long after the trip has ended.

The experiences forever change us into a different person.

Plan a trip for this summer, even if it’s only a day trip.

Make a point to experience something new.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There is just one life for each of us: our own. – Euripides

Search for and find your authentic life.

Don’t fall into the trapping of comparing your life to others.

Life’s too short to spend it trying to life someone else’s life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I had sent this out before on my Dad’s birthday one year, seemed appropriate for Father’s Day as well.

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who

wants to catch you before you fall

but instead picks you up,

brushes you off,

and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who

wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence

when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who

holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules,

shines with pride when you succeed,

and has faith in you even when you fail…

– Unknown

I found this short little bit about dad’s in my search of something to send out today for my dad’s birthday.

I have often wondered and thought about how it was that my dad had so much patience with me over the years. I imagine all the conversations and all of the dumb stuff I did and said (and still do and still say) that must have been hard to listen to without slapping me or something like that.

Now, with kids of my own, I can almost see it. But not completely. My kids are much better than I am sure I was.

So, Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/J9FImc2LOr8

Meaghan took the kiddos to see Space Jam on Wednesday and this song has been sung a lot the last couple of days.

Movies are a great escape.

Watch one of your all time favorites this weekend.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today marks our 16th wedding anniversary.

It’s a great reminder (again) of just how lucky I am.

My relationship with Meaghan is one of my greatest blessings.

Today remember to be thankful for the special relationships in your life.

Thank them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"By being yourself, you put something wonderful in the world that was not there before." – Edwin Elliot

Finding out who you are and being vulnerable enough to act on it is one of life’s great challenges.

Make time today to think about who you are.

And then take some kind of positive action towards embracing it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top. – Arnold Bennett

Jim Rohn says something like “all good is upstream, against the current”.

The better version of your life lies beyond difficulty and obstacles.

There is no other way.

The sooner we realize and agree to this, the sooner we get to where we want to go.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. – Mahatma Gandhi

A major cause of anxiety is in not living up to our ideals and potential.

We are happiest when our thoughts, actions and words line up with the best in us.

An interesting side effect of living in a time and place where we can have everything we want is the anxiety produced when we don’t follow through and get it.

I believe the solution is in simplicity.

When we simplify what we want and are motivated by it, we follow through.

We are able to line up our thoughts, actions and words better when there aren’t so many distractions to try to line up with.

So, for this week, what is your happiness thought?

What can you do to simplify and line up your life for happiness?

Make it a great day.

Jake