While I relish our warm months, winter forms our character and brings out our best. – Tom Allen

Winter is a great metaphor for those times in our life when things aren’t going so well.

This quote hints at that.

The hard times in our life form our character. They mold and shape our attitudes and belief system.

The hard times also bring out our best. When we are truly tested, we are given the opportunity to show our best.

Embrace the winters of your life as a time to get better and stronger.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of the first Christmas rituals at the Davis house is the annual viewing of “The Elf”.

As is typical for most Will Ferrell movies, there are some real gems of wisdom in the movie.

In particular, the “Code of the Elves” felt like some brilliant wisdom.

The Code of the Elves:

1. Treat every day like Christmas.

2. There is room for everyone on the nice list.

3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

The third one is questionable in my case, but maybe there is some wisdom on the list…..

Treat every day like Christmas. What would life be like if we did this? Do you think it would be better or worse?

There is room for everyone on the nice list. What if we treated everyone like this? What if we approached all of the “not nice” people we run into as if it were only a matter of time until they made the “nice list”?

Simple concepts. Treat every day like a day to celebrate. Expect the best of and for other’s in our lives.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Yesterday we lit the first Advent candle at church. It’s officially Christmas season now.

The first Advent candle represents hope. To Christians, the hope of what was to come in form of a baby in a manger on Christmas day.

Hope is a great word to describe some of the buzz that happens around Christmas.

We watch Christmas movies full of hope.

We listen to Christmas music full of hope.

Hope that people will get along better.

Hope that we will appreciate what we have.

Hope that peace and joy will win out over anger and depression.

Hope that we will find what we are looking for.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas season this year.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow is the official kick off of the holiday season (although I think all the retailers wants us to believe it starts with Halloween now).

One thought for everyone for tomorrow (in addition to being thankful).

Be present.

Don’t let the holiday pass by in a blur without slowing down (at least a little).

Enjoy the moments. Take a few deep breaths. Maybe even relax a little.

Make it a great day and have a great long weekend.

Jake

BAD – "I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." G.K. Chesterton

MS* – Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. – Melody Beattie

EB* – Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.- William Arthur Ward

JW – High fives for John, kids. For being awesome. – Jamie Warmbir

JD – When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude. – Gilbert K. Chesterton

In our leadership team meeting this week, Jamie shared a quick story of a store employee that went above and beyond to help him out.

High fives for John, kids.

His story reminded me of how the little things really do matter.

It really does matter that John went the extra mile to help a customer.

It really does matter that Jamie took a moment to thank him in front of his kids.

It really does matter that Jamie shared the story with his team.

Make it a great evening.

Jake

Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining – it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn’t solve any problems. – Zig Ziglar

Zig really hits the nail on the head here.

One of the great things about being grateful is that while you are saying or thinking a positive thought you can’t simultaneously be thinking or saying a negative. Thus, for every positive thought or word you are cancelling out the possibility for a negative one.

Zig points out three things about complaining:

1. It bores everybody else.

2. It does you no good.

3. It doesn’t solve any problems.

We all have a lot to be thankful for. Let’s choose thoughts of gratitude today.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/OLKiyo48VJI

Last chance to send a thankful song for the toe tapper and I came across this one.

“I thank you” – what a great name for a song.

If only we could hold that sentiment for more of our day, we would find ourselves having much better days.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Neal: [riding in back of pickup truck in freezing cold] What do you think the temperature is?

Del: One.

This is one of my favorite scenes from Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. It has been posted on the FaceBox a few times lately since it has been a little bit cold around here already.

It’s funny how holiday movies can set the mood for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The favorite quotes and scenes bring back memories of the past and remind us of all we have to be thankful for and happy about.

This time of year also tends to get busy. We run from place to place and from event to event.

What if we slowed down a little this year?

What if we made time for all our old favorite movies?

What if we made time for silence and prayer?

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – We consume our tomorrows fretting about our yesterdays. – Persius

BAD – Silence is the wit of fools. – Anatole France

JW – Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom. Phyllis Theraux

EB* – “Do a loony-goony dance, ‘Cross the kitchen floor, Put something silly in the world, That ain’t been there before.” – Shel Silverstein

MS* – “What does it mean to be the best? It means you have to be better than the number two guy. But what gratification is there in that? He’s a loser—that’s why he’s number two.” – Jarod Kintz

I came across the quote above from Shel Silverstein and was reminded of how cool I thought “A Light in the Attic” was when I was a kid.

What a great mental picture. Just being goofy and silly to put a fun and silly something into the world.

Next time you are alone, do something really goofy. Make yourself giggle.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“I have for many years endeavored to make this vital truth clear; and still people marvel when I tell them that I am happy. They imagine that my limitations weigh heavily upon my spirit, and chain me to the rock of despair. Yet, it seems to me, happiness has very little to do with the senses. If we make up our minds that this is a drab and purposeless universe, it will be that, and nothing else. On the other hand, if we believe that the earth is ours, and that the sun and moon hang in the sky for our delight, there will be joy upon the hills and gladness in the fields because the Artist in our souls glorifies creation. Surely, it gives dignity to life to believe that we are born into this world for noble ends, and that we have a higher destiny than can be accomplished within the narrow limits of this physical life.” ~ Helen Keller

What a great attitude.

Let this quote sink in a little.

Let it remind you to be happy regardless of the circumstances of your day.

Make it a great day.

Jake