Last weekend, we walked to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. My wife’s cousin lost his battle with this terrible disease a little over 5 years ago.
This song shows the battle of one young man and reminds us to make the most of our lives.
Diseases like Cystic Fibrosis are a reminder that life is brief even at the longest and we need to make the most of it.
You are looking towards a long weekend, make the most of it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. – Joseph Addison
Annie has been learning to read and loves to practice reading books. Maggie walks around with a book in her hand, reading all the time.
It has been so great to watch them grow into a love of reading. It’s easy to forget that love of reading that many of us first had when we read those first great books that we loved.
Where are you in your reading journey?
When was the last time you did some exercise for your mind?
If it has been a while, find something you would like to read and do it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
JW – “For every dark night, there’s a bright day after that, so no matter how hard it gets keep your head up, stick your chest out and handle it.” – Unknown
JD – Chicks love scars on your face. – Mike Somers
BAD – "It is a sign of great inner insecurity to be hostile to the unfamiliar." – Anais Nin
EB* – Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings. – Robert Bloch
MS – True friends know, accept, love, serve, and celebrate one another. -Bill Hybles
It’s always darkest before the dawn.
We all have moments when things seem a little dark. When we are groping, reaching toward something we can’t see yet.
A place where it seems like things will never change or get better.
I’m sure I don’t understand how we get there or why it works like this, but it does.
But there is always sunshine coming. If you are looking for it and moving towards it.
If you are in the dark, keep moving. You will see the sun before you know it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. – Joseph Campbell
This quote create a great mental picture to me. A spark of joy leading to a consuming fire that burns out all the pain.
Focusing on the joy in our life allows us to slowly but surely crowd out the negative and the painful.
Not that it will ever go away completely, just that it will seem so small and insignificant compared to the joy.
Focus on one small (or large) joy today.
Make it a great day.
Jake
At the beginning of the movie “The Legend of Bagger Vance” the narrator says “God is happiest when his children are at play.”
Yesterday, I had the good fortune to play in a charity golf outing with some good friends.
We had fun playing.
We were built for both play and work.
It’s easy as an adult to get stuck in work mode. To get stuck focused on all the tasks and stuff that needs to be done.
But we need to make some time to play.
Play with your kids.
Play with your friends.
Play with your spouse.
Make the time to have fun and do something that isn’t a task.
Make it a great day.
Jake
This video shows the remarkable journey of a dog that fights his way through learning to walk.
What stuck with me most about this video was the process.
It wasn’t just a couple of days or weeks, but years that it took for this process to work.
It wasn’t quick and continual progress, but long and filled with setbacks.
Sometimes the miracle process of change is slow and gradual. One step after another. You just have to keep taking them.
Make it a great day.
Jake
I liked the simple message in this one.
Every day is sunshine if I count my blessings.
It’s hard to argue with that.
Count your blessings today.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Young people are in a condition like permanent intoxication, because youth is sweet and they are growing. – Aristotle
Last night I had the privilege of handing out a couple of scholarships to two El Paso Gridley High School students.
I have been lucky enough to attend a few of these senior awards nights at local high schools.
Each time I am struck by the “kids” getting the awards. They smile and accept their awards with more respect and dignity than I’m sure I would have had at their age.
After the ceremonies, as I am driving home I think to myself that all of the “we’re going to hell in a handbasket” people have it all wrong.
Sure, the next generation isn’t like previous generations. And I’m certain they aren’t perfect.
But, I’m convinced that there are a bunch of great kids out there. Most of them wanting to make a positive impact for others.
Us older people have a tremendous opportunity. We can embrace and support the next generation through mentoring, coaching and leadership. We can help them become a generation of leaders and increase their impact on society.
Make it a great day.
Jake
In search of something good to write, I came across this site:
http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/
Go to the site and pick out an article to read.
Make it a great day.
Jake
JW – When you are the anvil, be patient. When you are the hammer, strike. – Arabian Proverb
JD – Care is a state in which something does matter; it is the source of human tenderness. – Rollo May
BAD – I emailed you one.
EB – It’s hip to be square. – Huey Lewis
JR – I drank what? – Socrates
MS – Value proceeds progress.
“I don’t care” is one of those phrases that are like nails on a chalkboard to me. By the time the kids move out of the house, I’m sure they will be tired of me correcting them when they let this one slip.
I usually say some version of “You do care….and here’s why” or “I’m sure you would care if I….(insert an option they won’t like much)”. Like I said, I’m sure they will grow a little weary of my lectures on this one.
I write all of this not to lecture you either, but to maybe show you the importance of words. Especially a word like care. Care is the source of human tenderness.
Choose your words carefully (see what I did there…).
Make it a great day.
Jake
Practical Steps for Friendship, Unity and Intimacy in Your Marriage
