All the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a single lovely action. – James Russell Lowell

One of my favorite ideas from Andy Stanley (although I’m sure he isn’t the only one to say it) is that love is a verb.

Love requires action.

Sentiments and nice words won’t do it.

We are all born with a desire to love and be loved, but we don’t get either without taking action.

In the Bible it commands us to “love our neighbors”.

Sounds nice, right?

What if instead it said “consistently act in a loving way towards your neighbor”?

Andy Stanley says that “love is a verb”, it requires doing; and then prompts us to ask the question “what does love require of me?”

What loving action could I take today?

Towards my spouse.

Towards my neighbor.

Towards my coworker.

Towards the strangers at Wal-Mart (or Target or wherever you shop…).

Find a way to take action today. Act out of love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Made it back home.

It’s always so good to be back home and in your own bed after traveling.

Similar to the “taking risks, making mistakes” lessons from traveling, I think coming home is symbolic too.

The best reason to take risks and challenge yourself to grow is because you have solid foundation.

Personal growth requires stretching and reaching out. This is done best from a solid base.

When we know that we have love and belonging at home, we can risk new friendships.

When we know that we have a financial base, we can take a few chances.

When we know our true values, we can expose ourselves to the values of others.

Every time I come home, I am reminded of how thankful I am for home base. For that feeling of love and security that allows me to try to expand my horizons.

Remember to be thankful for your home base.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. – George Bernard Shaw

Another lesson learned from travelling – if you go somewhere you have never been before, you are going to make mistakes.

Every. Time.

But it is worth it.

You only get new and interesting experiences by stepping outside of your comfort zone.

Your comfort zone is that place where you know you aren’t going to make many mistakes, at least not any meaningful ones.

Only by embracing the opportunity to make some new mistakes do you get a new perspective.

You are reminded of all the good in your life.

You are reminded that maybe you shouldn’t worry so much.

You are reminded that life is full of adventure, just waiting for you.

Take some chances, make some mistakes, you’ll be glad you did.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5TwT69i1lU&feature=youtu.be

More of a slow tapper, but a good one to get stuck in your head early in the morning.

Every time I travel I am reminded of what a wonderful world it really is.

There are all these other places, existing with their own unique beauty.

Kind of like people.

The world is full of wonderful people and places, if we get out there and look for them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The dog that trots about finds a bone. – Golda Meir

Action is required if progress is desired.

Struggling with something?

Find a way to get up and move around.

Go look for a book to read.

Go look for a mentor.

Go look for a new customer.

Go walk around the block.

Go make a new friend.

Get moving.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Confession time….Halloween is not my favorite holiday.

If we didn’t have kids or kids coming around trick or treating, I’m sure Halloween would come and go without me hardly noticing.

But having kids puts you into all kinds of situations that change your mind about things.

While it’s still not my favorite, Halloween sure is a lot more fun with the kiddos around.

Meaghan does an awesome job of getting costumes and jack-o-lanterns together with the kids and a fun time is had by all – even dad.

The point here for all of us is that if we are open to new things and relationships, we will be surprised what you’ll find.

I know this is something for me to work on…..lucky God sent me three little kids and a wonderful wife to help.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Don’t forget to volunteer to send out the daily attitude email while I’m gone….if you are interested in trying something new (or even if you have done it before).

https://www.facebook.com/pinoyradioonline/videos/1769300826436219/

Start your week off with a good laugh. Maybe even turn the volume up a little so someone next to you catches it too.

Videos like this one are a good reminder: life’s too short not to laugh. A lot.

Some things are serious.

But there is plenty of room left for laughing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – I am out of town Wednesday through next Tuesday. If you are interested in volunteering to send out a daily attitude email (or more than one) let me know.

https://youtu.be/ThHz9wlBeLU

Do you feel lucky, punk?

Well….you are.

You eat and live indoors.

You have people around you who love you.

You are really lucky to be you.

Embrace it.

Think of yourself as the luckiest person around.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of my favorite mental images is one I heard about on a podcast from Rick Warren.

On the podcast, Rick describes God sitting on the end of the bed in the morning, looking at each and every one of us and saying “I can’t wait to see their face, to see what they are going to do today…”.

This image provides a lot of peace and positive energy for myself, to be sure.

But for me, this image is most helpful when thinking of others.

No matter who the person is and how good or bad I may deem them to be, God is sitting at the end of their bed each morning, looking for the best in them with love.

It’s easy to get frustrated with others. To get upset with those that don’t agree with you. To be disappointed with those that don’t meet your expectations.

I find it helps to think of these people as that quiet, sleeping bundle of potential seeking their own way in this world to be loved and to love.

When we can think of others in this light, we open ourselves up to look for the good in them.

We open ourselves up to love and be loved in a better way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into. – Wayne Dyer

I have been thinking about abundance more lately.

Hopefully this means I am tuning into it more.

In particular, what I’ve noticed is the crops here in Central Illinois.

The sheer magnitude of the abundance of corn and soybeans is truly amazing if you think about it.

So many are fed and nourished from the ground around us here in Central Illinois.

We truly live in an area and time of abundance.

Think abundantly. There is enough to go around. God wants amazing things for each and every one of his children.

Make it a great day.

Jake