"Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." — Carlos Castaneda
A simple and powerful reminder.
We choose.
Positive or negative.
Light or dark.
We must daily make the choice to focus on the positive.
Think happy and strong thoughts today.
They are your thoughts. Might as well make them good ones.
Make it a great day.
Jake
No one is youer than you. – Dr. Seuss
Today is Meaghan’s birthday.
I remember the line above from “The Birthday Book” on Meaghan’s birthday every year.
For some reason, God sent me Meaghan (I can’t wait to ask him how I got so lucky).
And no one is more Meaghan than Meaghan.
Each of us has someone in our lives that has come about at the right time or in the right way.
In the way that only they could.
Today, be thankful for those that have and continue to impact your life.
Be thankful for they were uniquely made.
Be thankful they are in your life.
I know I am.
Make it a great day.
Jake
PS – Happy Birthday, Meaghan!
“Sometimes falling flat on your face allows you to see things from a totally different perspective.” ~ Linda Poindexter
People often say that successful people are the ones who fail the most.
Maybe this quote explains why a little.
Maybe when you have failed and are looking from that perspective can you see the real way through.
When you have changed your perspective ideas and solutions come through that you couldn’t see before.
Feeling stuck with something?
Try failing.
Try making some mistakes.
Try something you know for sure won’t work.
Then take that new perspective and let it lead you through.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Kind of corny, but a great simple message.
I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.
Just do what you can. Here and now.
Make it a great day.
Jake
Men stumble over pebbles, never over mountains. – Marilyn French
So simple but true.
We get tripped over the trivial. We are inspired and can’t be stopped when focusing on the monumental.
What are you focused on?
Make it a great day.
Jake
We were watching “Night at the Museum” the other day and they were retelling the Sacajawea story.
They talked about all the hardships and the enormous scope of their journey.
I think if we could ask someone like that from history what they were thinking about as they completed their epic journey or surmounted impossible odds the answer would interesting in its simplicity.
They would probably say things like:
I said I was going to do it, so I just didn’t quit.
Going forward just seemed better than quitting.
I didn’t really think about it at the time, we were having so much fun.
It seemed like something worth trying.
What they say maybe betrays part of what can hold us back from time to time. We make things too complicated. We try to climb the whole mountain in one day. We quit.
Whatever is on your goal list for this year, make a simple commitment today. Take the next step. However small that might be. However imperfect it feels. Just keep going.
Make it a great day.
Jake
EB* – The sweetest of all sounds is praise. – Xenophon
MS* – When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. – Marcus Aurelius
JW* – Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man. – Benjamin Franklin
JD – Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience. – Paulo Coelho
The Xenophon quote reminded me of a life lesson I have tried to take to heart.
We all have within us the power to praise someone else.
To lift them up.
To bring out the best in them.
Take the time to praise someone today.
Make it a great day.
Jake
In spite of unseasonable wind, snow
and unexpected weather of all sorts –
a gardener still plants.
And tends what they have planted …
believing that Spring will come.
– Mary Anne Radmacher
On a cold, snowy and blowy morning this quote seemed appropriate.
Faith. We all must take certain things with faith.
That spring will come.
That our efforts will pay off.
That if we keep it up it will be worth it.
It’s easy to lose faith in something.
Any time we work towards something bigger for our lives, we must work in faith.
Faith that it will all work out in the end.
Make it a great day.
Jake
This is going to prove how old I am getting, but I was think about the “Reset” button on the Nintendo.
For those of us that may have already broken a New Year’s resolution or didn’t get off to the start of the year we wanted.
Or maybe for those of us struggling with or striving for something else.
Sometimes you just need to hit the reset button.
Start over.
Take everything you have learned and start again from back a little ways.
Since it is in my power as the Supreme Commander of Everything in Your Life I hereby give you permission to hit the reset button.
Just step back and give it another go.
Make it a great day.
Jake
You’re simply the best.
One of the things I often think about as I write these emails is just how special each of you are.
It’s truly awe inspiring to think of all the awesome people that get this email every day.
It amazes me to think of all the possibilities, talents and uniqueness represented by you.
Each of you is the best. None of you is better than the others.
No one is more you than you. No one else was made for the greatness you were made for.
Thanks for letting me participate in your greatness in my own little way.
You inspire me.
Make it a great day.
Jake
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