Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving is a time to remember to give thanks.

It’s easy to think about our families, jobs, and the other big things we are thankful for.

This verse reminds us to be thankful for everything.

I was listening to a podcast the other day where they said “I believe that life is working for me.” Both the good and the bad are happening for me. And for that I can be thankful.

Not just the easy stuff, the hard stuff too.

Being thankful is harder, but better.

Remember to be thankful for EVERYTHING this Thanksgiving.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“He was like nice, all the time.” – Brian Welch

https://youtu.be/WfYMRD_IyK4?si=moi49n2ONH7UY4r5

The YouTube rabbit hold led me to this video last night.

It’s an interview with Brian Welch from the band Korn. In it he tells his own personal story of redemption.

The line above stuck out to me. He was talking about a friend he made when he was 11 or 12 and how he and his family were Christians.

It stood out to him that his friend was nice – all the time.

What a great example that young man was – just by being nice.

It led to an amazing story a few decades later. All because somebody decided to live out their values in an authentic way.

Something seemingly small and unimportant made a difference in one man’s life.

We have this same opportunity every day.

Let’s make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. – William Arthur Ward

Being thankful is the beginning of a better and more full life.

When we are thankful for what we have we transform our attitude and prepare ourselves for more of the same.

Think of an area of your life where you want to see a change.

Find something in that area to be thankful for.

Maybe an example would help.

Let’s say you wanted to save some money.

First, be thankful for whatever money you do have.

Treat that little bit as if it were a blessing that you get the opportunity to steward.

And then you will have the attitude it will take to start adding more.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/UhcI-HXicwY?si=IOdMyabxfklRyBVo

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart.

Of all the “shortcuts” to happiness and “tips to a better life” that we see – gratitude is number one in my book.

The holiday season is a great time to start this new habit.

Maybe start a gratitude journal.

Maybe send a text a day to someone you are thankful for.

Maybe make a few calls to tell someone you are thankful for them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Resending this daily attitude email from last year….

If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share. – W. Clement Stone

Being thankful is a great place to start because it reminds us that we have something to give.

We weren’t put on this earth to consume all that we can and be thankful along the way. We were made to give.

If you are thankful for all the love in your life, show it and share it.

If you are lucky enough to have a little extra money, give it away.

If you have some free time, find a place to volunteer.

There are many ways we can share this holiday season.

A great place to start is that list you think of over Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. As you think of what you are thankful for, take a moment to think of a way to share whatever it is you are thinking about.

Our real opportunity to change this place forever lies in our ability to share and give the best of ourselves with others.

What are you going to share?

Make it a great day.

Jake

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The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. – Paul Valery

And get to work!

Anything worth dreaming about will require real work at some point.

We must put in disciplined effort to make progress towards our dreams.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Rule 2: Take care of yourself, the way you would take care of someone else. – Jordan Peterson from “The 12 Rules for Life”.

Imagine if there was some crazy new system where you were actually in charge of someone else’s life.

You got to choose how they spent their time, what they ate, whether they exercised, their inner monologue, all of it.

How would treat that person?

What would do to make sure that person was happy?

Now imagine you loved that person. That you would do anything to make them happy. Not happy like the commercials say we should be. But full of joy.

That person is you.

You are supposed to take care of yourself. Jim Rohn calls it “enlightened self interest”. You take care of yourself so that you can make the greatest impact.

You are worth it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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"To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness." —Bertrand Russell

Doing without is a skill I’m trying to work on.

To actively put myself in a position to do with some stuff and comfort.

I’m not that good at it so far, but it seems like something worth getting better at.

What’s something you could do without this week?

What’s something that subtracting it from your life would be adding happiness?

Got any tips on doing without?

Make it a great day.

Jake

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A toe tapper from a few years ago on Veterans Day.

https://youtu.be/bWcASV2sey0

Last night I watched the last of the “Band of Brothers” HBO series.

The last line really stuck with me.

They ended with interviews with the actual veterans.

The last one told the story of his grandson asking if he had been a hero in the war.

“No, but I served with some.”

Wow. It takes a lot of character to conduct yourself like that.

We should all be proud of the legacy left by the great men and women in our armed forces and those who are currently serving.

Thank a veteran today and this weekend.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in an office. – Dwight Eisenhower

I think a lot of us merely think about integrity as the honesty part of the definition.

An interesting second way to define integrity is: the state of being whole and undivided.

Part of having integrity is internal. Did we do what we committed to ourselves to do.

When we don’t meet our own standards, goals or ideals we become divided somehow. It creates a source of stress inside of us.

Integrity also comes as part of our dealings with others.

Do we do the right thing?

Jim Rohn summarizes this by saying "Do what is right all of the time, no matter what the costs."

We must develop this kind of "fanatical integrity" in ourselves in order to build the successful life we want to lead.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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