People ask me a lot about the values I got from playing for the Cubs for so many years. The value I got out of it was patience. A lot of people these days are not very patient. – Ernie Banks

The Cubs fans’ years of patience finally paid off last week.

It has been amazing to see all the pictures and hear all the stories from the series, the players, and all the fans.

We all want to be a part of something big.

We all want to be a part of excellence.

We all want to win.

Watching the reactions of all the Cubs fans has been a great reminder of how much fun it can be to win.

What can you do to set yourself up for a win this week?

What can you do to help someone else win this week?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Being a Cubs fan builds character.

I just witnessed the Cubs winning the World Series for the first time in – say it with me – one hundred eight years. If you missed it, the seventh and final game had everything a Cub fan expects to see – dazzling plays, great optimism, missed opportunities, shaken confidence, concern, renewed hope, excitement, enthusiasm, exuberance, tension, disappointment, despair, a glimmer of light, great anticipation, more disappointment, resignation, and then – unexpected success!

Just like life.

What was the key to their success? Cubs manager Joe Madden, and every player interviewed after the game, said pretty much the same thing: believe in yourself, remember to have fun, take each day as it comes – one game at a time – and never quit. Ever.

I think that may be the best take away from the whole experience for me. To remember in life, as in baseball, take one day at a time, trust that I have what it takes to be successful, enjoy the journey, and never quit.

Make it a great day, and Go Cubs!

Ron Gould

“It’s an invitation to rearrange everything. It’s the starting place for creation. It’s the bucket of paint that the artist can make into something beautiful. It’s the possibility that things can change – for the better. Another name? Chaos.” – Danielle Strickland, A Beautiful Mess

What a wonderful new perspective to have when things are going a little haywire and not quite in the order or way we expect. When life gets chaotic!

We have believed so long that chaos is bad, but maybe she’s right. Maybe it is just the beginning of something better. Maybe it is an opportunity to create a new sense of order. Maybe chaos is our cue to refocus, take a deep breath and get busy creating a new situation.

Maybe with faith and when handled with love, chaos is a good thing. Maybe it helps us grow and become wiser and stronger and more creative. Maybe some chaos can be welcomed!

Susie Vigil

Today is All Saints’ Day.

A day to remember the saints that have come before us.

Today (and each and every day) we have the unique responsibility of honoring the great men and women who have gone before us.

We have the opportunity to build upon the past in order to create a better future.

We get to choose what to build on and where to build towards.

Be thankful today for those that have come before us.

Do your best in order to honor them.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Still need 2 volunteers to send out the daily attitude email while I am out this week.

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. – Mahatma Gandhi

A major cause of anxiety is in not living up to our ideals and potential.

We are happiest when our thoughts, actions and words line up with the best in us.

An interesting side effect of living in a time and place where we can have everything we want is the anxiety produced when we don’t follow through and get it.

I believe the solution is in simplicity.

When we simplify what we want and are motivated by it, we follow through.

We are able to line up our thoughts, actions and words better when there aren’t so many distractions to try to line up with.

So, for this week, what is your happiness thought?

What can you do to simplify and line up your life for happiness?

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – I am off the rest of the week. If you are interested in volunteering to send out the daily attitude email, just let me know.

https://youtu.be/DaIZvCDWAcQ

(This one comes with a special appearance by the Donald).

Classic Ghostbusters memories coming back from this one.

Movie themes and soundtracks are an integral part of the movie and our experience watching it. They bring us along emotionally with the story line.

Make your theme song today something positive.

Create a positive energy and enthusiasm by introducing some positive music.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines. – Robert H. Schuller

Too often we allow a snag or a hang up stop us from reaching our potential.

The example from my life is working out.

I’ll have a good couple of weeks.

Then I’ll skip a day or two.

For some reason my brain sees it as a stop sign.

Before I wake up a couple of weeks have gone by.

Don’t let a bad day or two be a stop sign. Just get right back on the horse. Let the problems or excuses fall to the side as you push forward.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves. – Harry S Truman

JW – No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

EB – Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35

MS – Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The Bible verse that Mike shared is one of my favorites.

The Bible is full of advice and warnings that seem to constantly suggest we need to find and follow God’s will if we desire to be happy and successful.

This is where I make things much harder than they need to be. I ponder, guess and flail around trying to figure out what God’s plan for me is.

I don’t need to guess or wonder what God wants from me.

Rejoice all the time.

Pray constantly.

Give thanks.

Not a bad plan.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Nine-tenths of wisdom is being wise in time. – Theodore Roosevelt

The largest part of success appears to lie in our time management.

How we choose to spend our time determines our results.

One of the biggest challenges we have in this area is choosing what is best over what is good.

Watching TV may be good, but is it the best use of your time?

Checking email may be good, but is it the best use of your time?

Surfing the FaceBox is good, but is it the best use of your time?

If we want to do our be our best we must seek out the best.

What is the best thing for you to do first this morning?

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – I am going to be out next week and am still looking for volunteers to send out the daily attitude one or more of the days. Email me if you are interested in filling in.