The way to get things done is not to mind who gets the credit for doing them. – Benjamin Jowett

I’m convinced that anything meaningful we want to do with our lives requires some help along the way.

We were made to help each other.

Find somebody to help today.

Forget about whether or not you get the credit.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at its testing point. – CS Lewis

Today is Veterans’ Day, a day to remember those who have served our country.

I think of the word courage often when I think of our veterans, and I think CS Lewis describes this virtue perfectly.

Whatever virtue it was that drew out the courage of any particular veteran, they all pursued that virtue at the highest level.

Some served for love of country.

Some served in order to stand up to the bullies of this world.

Some served to impress a girl.

All exhibited courage along the way.

We best honor their courage and sacrifice when we have this same courage at the testing point of virtues.

When we have the courage to love, serve, and sacrifice for our loved ones and for what is true and right in this world, we test our own courage in the face of difficulty.

We certainly have it easier. Our smaller sacrifices give meaning to the sacrifices of those who have served. The sacrifices of those who have served give meaning to our smaller sacrifices.

Have courage as you go about your day. Honor the sacrifices of our veterans by being courageous in pursuing virtue in your life.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well. – Rene Descartes

In the age of AI this takes on a whole new meaning.

Soon enough we’ll all have access to one of the most advanced minds ever imagined.

We can choose to use that power to help, honor, serve and love others or we can use it as a lever to further distance ourselves from others.

We will be able to solve complex problems quickly, but will need to remember to invest in long term relationships and do the difficult interpersonal work required to love others well.

We must use it well.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/-l70C3ePyIQ?si=w4Wph_ULAjSCj0-8

As the kids get older, the dad speeches get longer and longer.

I see them facing decisions and challenges and want so badly to share the mistakes I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned.

This song talks about the balancing act of wishing we knew how it all turns out vs learning and growing through life lived and lessons learned.

We want the path to be smooth and easy for them, but that’s not how it works.

Growth appears in the face of challenges and difficulties.

Of course, that’s easier to see from the other side.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy. I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and, as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.” – George Bernard Shaw

Does this describe you:

A mighty purpose….

A force of nature….

Or does this describe you:

A feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances…

Complaining that the whole world will not devote itself to making you happy…

We all have the same opportunity to find our purpose. To clarify as best we can. To live it every day.

And when we do….

Our splendid torch, which we have a hold for the moment, will burn brightly before we pass it on to the next generations.

If you haven’t taken the time to write down a personal mission statement or purpose statement, hopefully this has inspired you to spend some time working on one.

Make it a great day.

Jake

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. – George Bernard Shaw

A hard lesson to learn in life is to take more chances.

You get to a certain age (old like me) and you’ve been dinged up from a few mistakes and it sure seems easier to just avoid risk altogether.

You’ve developed some personal defense mechanisms to keep the bad stuff away.

But we’ve got to take chances.

To learn and grow.

To love and be loved.

To know what we are truly capable of.

Try something new today. Even if it is something little. Just to get out of your comfort zone.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – this probably goes without saying, but use wisdom here. Some chances aren’t worth taking. Don’t risk your marriage or your health or your relationship with your kids over something foolish.

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:26-34

Any time I feel the anxiousness creeping in, I try to remind myself of the verses above.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of worrying.

Our minds appear to have a natural tendency towards worry and anxiety.

But I believe God has a different plan for us.

Promises like joy and peace are there for us if we can renew our mind and put the right thoughts in.

If you’re feeling a lot of anxiety lately, read these versions again. Maybe every day. Renew your mind with these timeless truths.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. – e. e. cummings

Monday morning reminder – laugh more!

Life is short and filled with trouble.

Might as well squeeze in a little more laughter.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/G6Vw9RGm1tM?si=DkEIRsf8Rr_494T7

Time to dress up the kiddos and parade around asking for candy.

I’ve never been a huge Halloween fan, but the kids sure do have fun running around the neighborhood asking for candy.

My favorite part is giving away the candy.

Telling all the kids to take another piece or two and then seeing them run back to their parents or on to the next house.

Have fun whether you are on the giving or receiving side!

Make it a great day.

Jake

Yesterday would have been my aunt’s birthday, it reminded me of this daily attitude email I sent a few years ago…

My aunt Marlyn passed away over the weekend and it has me thinking about her.

When I was in college about once a month she sent me a card with a $20 bill in it.

It was always the highlight of the day if one of those cards showed up in the mail.

I’m ashamed to admit that I blew all that money and don’t have much to show for it, but the memory has always stuck with me.

She took the time to find a card, put in some money and mail it off to me.

I don’t know if she did this for a hundred people or just me, I just know it made a difference to me.

It always made me feel special and like someone was rooting for me.

And the lesson I learned is to always look out for those little opportunities to show someone they are loved and that you are rooting for them.

Think of somebody in your life that could use a little pick me up….then send them a card with a $20 bill in it (or whatever works).

Be generous.

Be thoughtful.

Do something small, a couple of times, just to get started.

It will make a difference.

They’ll be talking about it when you’re long gone.

Make it a great day.

Jake