https://youtu.be/l5-EwrhsMzY

A letter to a person on their first day here from Kid President.

In order to encourage you to spend the few minutes watching this one.

One line sticks out though.

I’m glad you’re here.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor." – – Paul Tsongas

Yesterday was Memorial Day. Memorial Day is about remembering those who have lost their lives fighting for our great country.

It is about remembering to honor their sacrifice.

It is about remembering the price of war.

It is about remembering that freedom is worth fighting for.

It is about remembering to do our part in this great country.

It is about remembering what is important.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/2Oo8QzDHimQ

As each season passes in our lives, don’t forget to celebrate.

Don’t let a season go by without taking that time to pause for a minute and celebrate another great season.

All too often in life we get ourselves so busy and anxious, we miss out on the chance to celebrate.

Take the time to celebrate and recharge your batteries as the seasons pass.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay in there forever. – Winnie the Pooh

MS – Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

EB* – Everything in life is temporary. So if things are going good, enjoy it because it won’t last forever. And if things are going bad, don’t worry. It won’t last forever.

JW* – Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss.

Last day of school today.

School years are a great test case for learning to embrace the seasons of each life.

Each has an exciting and challenging beginning.

Each has an end that leaves you happy and a little sad.

Watching the kids learn these lessons over the last few years has reinforced some of the thoughts from the quotes above.

Life is going to happen.

Some good, some bad. Some beginnings, some endings.

The key is to make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other. – Euripides

Love allows us to ignore the selfish side of ourselves and think of someone else first.

So much of life and our important relationships relies on this simple truth.

Today, do something special to let someone know that you are thinking of them first.

Make it a great day.

Jake

There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met. – William Butler Yeats

This quote reminds me of all the possibilities that exist for us.

The next stranger we meet could be a new friend. A relationship that blossoms and grows into something truly special.

If we keep our eyes and hearts open, anything is possible.

Is there something you need to be more open to today?

Is your heart open or your guard up?

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top. – Arnold Bennett

Our goals and dreams are at the top. They require effort and climbing.

It’s easier not to do the work of climbing the hill.

But the view is from the top.

Keep climbing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation." – Jack Nicklaus

Challenge yourself to raise your aspirations. Dream bigger.

Challenge your expectations of yourself. Don’t let yourself get away with anything but your best.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/84GEk4RUY3s

“Keep it real”. “Be yourself”.

Great advice, kind of.

We all need to embrace our uniqueness and individuality. We were all created with a special plan and purpose.

But the other side of this seems to be avoiding change.

If you are a jerk, you probably shouldn’t try to “keep it real” or “be yourself”; you should probably work hard to change.

We all need to seek out the clarity of self to know the difference.

To know when to embrace our uniqueness and when to change.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – You play ball like a girl.

JW* – You’re killing me Smalls.

MS* – Just stand out there and stick your glove in the air. I’ll take care of it.

EB* – You call that pitching? This is baseball! Not tennis!

Since we forgot to get quotes from everyone in our meeting, I figured I would send everyone some of the best quotes from “The Sandlot”.

Simple silly lines that make a meaningful story about growing up entertaining and fun to watch.

Life’s full of the silly and fun stuff that we all say to make each other laugh.

Keep it up.

Pour it on.

Make the lives around better by being a little silly and making someone laugh.

Make it a great day.

Jake