The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. William James

Being mindful of your thoughts is an important practice for us all to get better at.

We experience a lot more anxiety, worry and stress than we really need to because of thought patterns that have developed.

If we can be mindful of those thought patterns and replace them with something positive we can be less stressed, less worried and experience less anxiety.

I’m sure this isn’t revolutionary news for all of you, but we all need to be reminded of the obvious every once in a while.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Let no one or anything stand between you and the difficult task, let nothing deny you this rich chance to gain strength by adversity, confidence by mastery, and success by deserving it. Do it better each time. Do it better than anyone else can do it." – Harlow H. Curtice

What if we could look at the difficulties in our lives as opportunities?

Think about what is going on in your life.

Is there something you are staying away from because it seems too difficult?

Is there something you are falling short on because you aren’t giving it your all with a positive attitude?

Think a little differently and you’ll get different results.

Make it a great day.

Jake

It is not our abilities that make us what we are, it is our choices. – Albus Dumbledore

As part of the experience of going to Harry Potter World on vacation we had to watch some of the movies to prepare.

This line stood out.

We are all born with and have cultivated certain abilities and talents.

Some of us are off the charts talent-wise.

Some of us are more in the middle of the pack.

Some of us are behind the curve a little.

What really governs our success is how we apply those talents through the choices we make.

Are we disciplined?

Are we kind?

Are we of service to others?

Are we loving those around us?

Our choices make the difference.

Make it a great day.

Jakeu

Laughter is an instant vacation. – Milton Berle

Usually at some point during a vacation I realize that I should be doing more “vacation stuff” all the time.

This quote really sums it up well.

We can go on an instant vacation any time we want. Just laugh and have fun.

As we go about our typical work days we tend to allow ourselves to get stuck in the routine of it all.

Change it up.

Take a vacation from the routine.

Do something simple today to take a vacation from the normal.

Take a different route into work.

Order something you normally wouldn’t for lunch.

Spend a few extra minutes outside.

Stay up late.

Go to bed early.

Change it up.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – Thank you to those that wrote daily attitude emails last week. They were awesome.

Better Together by Jack Johnson.

Lyrics are:

“Love is the answer.

At least for most of the questions in my heart.

Like ‘Why are we here?’ and ‘Where do we go?’,

And ‘How come it’s so hard?’

It’s not always easy,

And sometimes life can be deceiving

I’ll tell you one thing:

It’s always better when we’re together”

Together as a family, as a couple, as friends, as a team, as a congregation, as a community… Life is always better when we’re together.

Susie Vigil

Zoo Keeper

Mavidea

Office: 309-829-2000 x819

Toll Free: 888-898-8960

Having Fun Serving Others

mavidea.com

meet the team

I ran across a Frances Chan video online a while back that has stuck with me. In the video, the charismatic pastor drags a long rope onto a stage and points out that the tip of the rope is colored red. The other end of the rope disappears off the screen and presumably stretches around the room. The rope is very long. It represents eternity. The red mark is very short. It represents our time here on Earth. The point of the video is that we tend to get caught up in earthly matters, but what really matters is the eternity we’ll spend after our time on Earth ends.

Chan’s rope illustration is powerful. I think of it often and it continues to impact me from time to time. However, I confess that I am sometimes … distracted by the tyranny of the moment.

No, that’s not quite right.

Distracted is the I-want-you-to-like-me version of what I’m trying to say. Here’s the truth: sometimes I get really annoyed or even angry about small things that frustrate me. It’s usually stuff that I can’t (or shouldn’t) do anything about: Somebody is driving slowly in the fast lane. A restaurant server was inattentive or rude. Or someone made a decision that I didn’t think was the best one (for me?).

It helps me to remember the rope illustration. Eternity is a very, very long time and I believe it’s going to be good. Why get worked up over a tiny little hiccup on the red part of the rope?

Matt Hyatt

“The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” – Socrates

‘Put your best foot forward.’ ‘Put on a brave face.’

We all do it. The reasons vary, but the result is the same. We pretend to be what we wish to be, hoping it will be true one day.

But true transformation doesn’t come from wishful thinking. It comes from introspection, and a choice to change from within.

Without true change, the mask will become heavier and heavier over time. But with true change, the mask can be lifted.

Make the choice inside yourself. Take the first step in the paradigm shift of your soul which will carry you to a brighter future.

Be what you pretend to be.

Make it a great day.

-Michael Cluney

"How lucky are we that we have roads to drive on that are getting plowed?!?” – Jamie Warmbir

One of the many things I love about being a Mavidean is the attitude of gratitude around here. This was Jamie’s response when someone made mention of the snow. He’s right you know. We are pretty lucky! People all around us are working to help us and serve us.

Take notice today of something you may have taken for granted in the past. Try calling attention to it and see how it changes the meeting, the call, the trip, the meal.

Make it a great day!

Mike Somers

One of my favorite books of poems is by Francesco Marciuliano, who also writes the comic strip Sally Forth, published in 700 newspapers. Here’s one of his poems:

Give

You can’t hold someone who wants to leave

You can’t clutch a memory as if it were today

You can’t take an insult close to heart

You can’t grasp for glory from your chair

You can’t seize life thinking only of loss

And you can’t grab a laser pointer dot on the wall

No matter how much you try

These hard-earned truths I give to you

The book is called "I Could Pee On This", and all the poems are written from a cat’s perspective. It’s hilarious, and captures the logic cat must use to do the things they do. Ironically, there are many truths identified that apply to the human condition and attitude, as well. Take the poem above, for example, and what I think it means:

You can’t hold love against its will

You can’t live in the past

Don’t be thinned skinned, or take things too personally

You can’t win if you don’t play

Life goes on

Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice

it must be a laser pointer dot

My own cat wrote that last line.

Pick out one or two of the truths that apply to you, and use them to make it a great day.

Ron

If you’d like to read more fun poems by cats, I Could Pee On This by Francesco Marciuliano is available at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

https://youtu.be/xTuIXtXUEw4

You are some kind of wonderful.

This is true.

But as you listen to this song, I want you to think of someone else in your life.

Somebody who is some kind of wonderful.

Remember all those reasons you think they are wonderful.

Remember all those times they did something wonderful.

And then tell them.

Tell them you were thinking about them.

Forward this email.

Send them this song.

Just do something to reach out and tell them they are wonderful.

Make it a great day.

Jake