“If you try new things they might taste good.” (In a sing-songy voice) – Daniel Tiger

Daniel Tiger is a favorite kids show around the Davis house. Each episode has a catchy little song/phrase to teach a lesson.

This particular lesson gets repeated a lot around our house.

It’s kind of stuck in my head and has morphed into a challenge to try some new things.

What is something new that you should try?

What is something you have always wanted to try?

What is something you thought you would never try?

Challenge yourself to try something new today. Think of something small. If that goes well (or even if it doesn’t) try something else new.

If you want to create a new you, you are doing to have to do things you never do. And the sooner you get started, the sooner you will start seeing results.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – Super hero! Awesome! – Oliver Davis (wearing a super hero mask around the house)

EB – Daddy, I want no chocolate broncos. I want blue mustangs. –

JW – Dad, can we go ice fishin’? – Ethan Warmbir

MS* – I love peas! – Oliver Davis

BAD – I found it out in my brain. – Elly Sherlock

Today’s quotes all came from the little kids in our lives that infuse humor and vitality into our lives.

As I mentioned in the daily attitude email this morning, kids really do have some lessons to teach us in our lives.

This is another of life’s double-edge swords – we must grow up and mature while keeping some of the childlike wonderment and enthusiasm.

A great example for me lately has been playing basketball again. After not playing for close to 15 years, it has so much fun to play again.

I had forgotten to have fun doing things like that. I had let go of that part of my childlikeness.

Your thing might not be basketball.

It might be playing video games.

It might be swimming.

It might be reading.

It might be riding your bike.

It might be riding on a roller coaster.

Challenge yourself to find an activity that makes you feel like a kid again. And add a little bit of it to your schedule.

Still pay the mortgage, take care of the car, and grow as a mature, responsible adult, but squeeze in a little kid time too.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“See da moon?”

Somehow, all the Davis kids picked this one up from their mom. We will be driving down the road at night and they will say “see da moon?”

They have all done this from an early age and with no prompting.

When Oliver started doing this recently, it reminded me of one of the great things about having kids – their sense of wonderment.

Where I might not even notice the moon and the stars they will be amazed by it.

They can be a great reminder to stop and be amazed by life. There are a lot of amazing things going on at any given moment, we just have to slow down and pay attention enough to notice them.

Make it a point to enjoy this amazing day.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. – Helen Keller

To imagine someone both deaf and blind having this thought is humbling.

What a great mental image – the sunshine always on your face. The warmth and light always in front of you.

It can be helpful to be able to close our eyes and picture something like this. To change our thought patterns so that they focus on the positive warmth and sun.

Next time you are stressed or hurried or frustrated, close your eyes picture the sun on your face.

Take a deep breath and take it in.

Hopefully that helps.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/Bj1AesMfIf8

Another song to get those spring thoughts going.

Here comes the sun. I am always amazed at what a difference a little sunshine can make in everyone’s moods.

And as we look forward to our move at Mavidea, there is certainly a lot more sunshine in our future.

As the weather begins to turn and the sun shines brighter, warmer and for a little bit longer each day remember to slow down enough to enjoy it.

Take a moment to step outside and just take it in.

Turn off the radio in the car for a minute and just look at the view.

Get up a few minutes early and find a place to see the sunrise.

Enjoy it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70UF82nysIU

Michael Cluney sent me this great video.

What a great reminder of two important things about life.

First, at some point you will get knocked down. It happens to all of us. Whether someone else trips us up or we trip on our own two feet, we will end up on the ground.

Second, after you fall you have a decision to make. You can decide to take it as a loss. You could decide to whine and moan. You could decide to take it easy since there is no way you can win now.

Or you could decide to win anyway. You can use the fall as a spark that sends you flying past everyone else on your way to the win.

It’s your choice.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire. – Ferdinand Foch

Can you remember a time when you were on fire about someone or something?

Did you let small things get you down or did you press forward?

Did you wake up and drearily start your day?

Did you wait for things to come to you (impatiently)?

Probably not.

You moved right past the small stuff, not even noticing because you were so focused.

You woke up on fire and started thinking immediately about your goal.

You moved toward your desire relentlessly.

If you don’t have something you are on fire about right now, seek it out. Begin looking. Make finding that something your goal for now.

Make it a great day.

Jake

MS – “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

-C.S. Lewis

BAD – It is our choices… that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities. – J.K. Rowling

JW – IOWA, 75% vowels, 100% awesome. – In honor of Brian Trotter

JD – If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals. – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

EB* – Time is nature’s way of keeping everything from happening at once. – Woody Allen

Meaghan has started reading the Harry Potter series with Maggie.

In my opinion (which may in fact be worthless in this area) good fiction is fiction that uses a creative and fantastic story to show us and teach us about the important stuff in life.

Dr. Seuss did it so well and I think the Harry Potter series does as well.

Friendship.

Selflessness.

Honor.

Integrity.

Honesty.

Courage.

Themes like these run all through the great novels and stories we like to watch, read and talk about. We all can see a better version of ourselves in the heroes of movies and books.

We leave inspired to be and do better knowing that it is possible and that it is possible for us.

Find a story that inspires you. Watch the movie. Read the book. Get inspired. Take action.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Yesterday was Dr. Seuss’s birthday.

I have already written many times about how much we like Dr. Seuss at the Davis household.

Today, I thought I would highlight something that his birthday reminds me of: legacy.

Dr. Seuss has left a legacy that will be remembered for many generations. A legacy full of wonderful stories for children and grown ups alike.

Stories that weave important life lessons with whimsical poems and lyrics that take difficult subjects and make them clear for small children (and adults).

One of the important decisions we each face is what kind of legacy we will leave.

Our actions will leave an impression. They will make an impact.

We choose what kind of impact we make in the myriad of daily choices we face.

What kind of legacy are you leaving?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. – Karl Barth

This one is so simple and good, it stands for itself.

Make it a great day.

Jake