Music plays an important role in the Olympics.
It inspires athletes to do their best.
It is used by some to remind themselves that it is time to compete.
It brings many to tears as their national anthem is played.
It is reminds us that we are all human.
Make it a great day.
Jake
The best preparation for good work tomorrow is to do good work today. – Elbert Hubbard
Much of life is an iterative process of continual improvement day to day.
The best way to prepare for a better tomorrow is to have a good day today.
This goes for our work, our relationships, our bodies, etc.
The best choice we can make each day is to do our best with the day we have been given.
Make it a great day.
Jake
JD – It’s easier to be brave when you are protected. – Amy Poehler
JR – Just because Erik took too long, that doesn’t mean I don’t get what I want. – Jake Davis
MS – All these people are asking me to do FaceBook live….there’s like 3 people. – Erik Barnlund
EB – Screw you guys.
JW – I’m on vacation.
One of the many blessings in my life is getting to work with a great group of people. A group I call my friends.
CS Lewis writes a lot about friendship in “The Four Loves”. Below is one of my favorite quotes:
A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves
The instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.
In our silliness and goofy meetings. Our jokes and awkward hugs, we are shown the beauty in God’s creation of another person who is on our side.
We stand side by side and look out at the world and work to make it better. We work to show the beauty of those special relationships in a way that brings light and crowds out the darkness.
Make it a great day.
Jake
To forget oneself is to be happy. – Robert Louis Stevenson
Goal for the day – forget about me and all my stuff. Focus on others and all their stuff.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Another one of my favorite themes from the Olympics is the idea of “regular people” striving for excellence in their particular sport.
You hear stories about how a kayaker bags groceries to make ends meet or how the 10m air pistol guy sells insurance.
So many of the stories in the Olympics prove the kind of greatness someone can achieve when they really want something.
The Olympic stories show that hard work and perseverance can create excellence.
Maybe we all aren’t going to be Olympic athletes, but we can accomplish something amazing.
We can produce greatness.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Every time the Olympics comes around I am reminded of this moving story.
The Olympics are such a unique event in that they are every 4 years and include athletes from all over the world.
Just making it to the Olympics is an achievement in its own right.
Regardless of that achievement there is only one gold medal winner. And sometimes it just isn’t their day.
In this video, Derek Redmond tears his hamstring halfway through the race. It just happened. No one’s fault. It wasn’t fair. In fact, it was supremely unfair.
But he chose to finish. He chose a path that has probably inspired millions since.
This unique sports event created a unique event that allowed all of us to be inspired.
Watch the Olympics this week and next. Look for that inspiration. And never give up.
Make it a great day.
Jake
(The author of this post was in no way compensated by NBC or the Olympics, but that would have been nice.)
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
After reading several books about the Navy SEALs and other special forces one of my biggest take aways was the idea of adversity being a good thing.
They go through elaborate training scenarios that are designed to purposefully create adversity for the trainees.
This process creates stronger graduates from the training programs.
The graduates end up with an attitude of “Well, if I made it through that, I can do this next thing too.”
It’s really not that hard to set up a comfortable life.
But in the end, we must not seek comfort. We were built to grow and change and love. In order to grow and change and love we are going to be faced with adversity.
And in the end we will be better off for it.
Make it a great day.
Jake
"In my whole life, I have known no wise people who didn’t read all the time—none… ZERO." — Charlie Munger
Some ideas and plans for success fall into the optional category.
Some fall into the balance category.
Some fall into the requirement category.
This quote reminded me that growing and learning is one of them.
I am sure there are others.
The main idea I wanted to pass along was to not fight it.
There are some things everybody just has to do if they want to get anywhere near something that looks like success.
Don’t fight it. Lean into it.
Lean into growth and learning.
Lean into love.
Lean into taking care of your body.
Make it a great day.
Jake
JD – A successful marriage is an edifice that must be rebuilt every day. Andre Maurois
JW – Skunks smell bad but you don’t. – Ethan Warmbir
MS – The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. – Proverbs 11:17
EB* – That John Denver is full of shit, man.
Since EB is out this week and in the Rockies, I couldn’t resist putting in my favorite quote about the Rockies as his quote for the week.
The Rockies are a great reminder of the grand scope and beauty that exists in our world. Seeing pictures from family that visited this summer reminded me to be thankful for all of wonders in this world that we are lucky enough to enjoy.
Even if you aren’t lucky enough to spending some time in the mountains this summer, make it a point to appreciate this wonderful world we live in.
And if you aren’t in the mood for that, here is my second favorite quote about the Rockies.
Make it a great day.
Jake
What we think, we become. – Buddha
Challenge for today.
Pay attention to what is going on in your mind.
And then think about this quote and decide if that is ok.
If you are going to become what you are thinking about, are you ok with that?
Or would you like to see something different?
Make it a great day.
Jake
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