Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves. – Eric Sevareid

I’m sure everyone is tiring of my reminders of the virtues of selflessness, but I couldn’t resist this Christmas quote when I saw it.

Every Christmas, there is some moment along the way where the idea of being selfless really sticks with me.

Whether it is a bell ringer at Wal Mart or a sermon at church or a moment of selflessness from one of the kids.

I hope this quote and email can be a simple reminder for each of you today.

A reminder to think of others first.

To do and be your best, for others.

To serve others.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – Either move or be moved. – Ezra Pound

EB – Is it a stink bug?

JW – Get that bug off the table!

MS* – Do you need me to take care of that bug for you?

Obviously Erik brought a bug into the meeting today….

I really liked this quote from Ezra Pound.

One simple truth – everything is always moving and changing. You can choose to either move or you will be moved.

Too often we allow ourselves to be swept downstream. To move along with the crowd or just taking the easy way out.

But we can choose to be the mover.

We can choose to take action.

Make it a great day.

Jake

You can’t hide from your own beliefs. What you believe in colors every thought you have and action you take, and has a profound effect on who you become. Likes and dislikes, opinions of other people, career choices, and even the food you eat are all by-products of your beliefs. If your beliefs are working for you, then you should be hugely successful, peaceful and content. It will all come naturally. If that sounds like a pipe dream, then perhaps your beliefs need to be challenged. In fact, when is the last time you examined and earnestly challenged the core beliefs you hold dear in your life? Typically this only happens when we hit a wall and everything clatters to a halt. You push the same cherished buttons on the control panel but the machine continues to sputter and break down. It’s within these moments you are most open to examining new beliefs. – Mark Divine, The Unbeatable Mind

I read this paragraph and thought it was a great reminder of how important our attitudes and beliefs are and the importance of examining and cultivating them.

I don’t know about you, but I would much rather examine them now, instead of waiting for the “machine to break” as he describes above.

Take a moment today to examine some of your core beliefs.

Ask yourself the tough questions about what you believe.

Do you believe in yourself?

Do you believe in the good in others?

Do you believe that you can be happy no matter what happens?

Do you believe that success and happiness are out there waiting for you?

Make it a great day.

Jake

To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift. – Steve Prefontaine

Still not sure how it happened, but this year I have read a few books about the military and their experiences serving our country.

Two lessons in particular stick out in my mind as I think about how those experiences apply to us.

First, we have it pretty good.

Right now there are many soldiers and others enduring something uncomfortable in order to protect us. Right now they are cold or wet or in pain or just plain missing home.

Thinking about this really puts my “problems” into perspective. All the complaints and worries don’t really compare to what someone else is experiencing in order to protect me so maybe I shouldn’t worry so much.

Second, we have an obligation.

Because their sacrifice is so great, we owe them.

We owe them respect and honor when they return (and especially if they don’t).

But I think our greatest obligation to them is do and be our best. We must be worth fighting for. Worth dying for.

A country full of whiners and complainers sure would make that sacrifice seem pointless.

A country full of believers and achievers, hopers and dreamers would be worth any sacrifice.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/9Fjik78LapA

Step into Christmas!

Lean into the whole thing.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Christmas, my child, is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it’s Christmas. – Dale Evans Rogers

Quotes like this remind me of the ideal of Christmas.

As we get older and we have a chance to get more cynical about Christmas, ideals like this almost seem a little hokey.

But as I get older, I am working to embrace more hokey ideals into my life.

At Christmas, we get to celebrate love in action as this quote says.

We get to focus on our loved ones instead of ourselves.

We get a definite date on the calendar to point at where we can take a break from worrying about and thinking about ourselves.

Maybe this is a little hokey, but I am in.

Let’s not stop at the gifts and gift giving though.

Think about what the others in your life appreciate and give them more of that.

Maybe it’s quality time.

Maybe it’s a kind word.

Maybe it’s something you could do for them.

Maybe it’s a hug.

Think about them. Think about what they would like. Take action.

Make it a great day.

Jake

JD – I’m unprepared, but I’ll send you one later – Jake "Wingnut" Davis

JW – You’re disgusting. – Zach "Mamma’s Boy" Warmbir

EB – My only goal every time is to make myself giggle. – Jake "Yohan" Davis

MS – The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

The quote from Zach Warmbir came with a story.

Zach uttered these words when Mr. Warmbir went in to comfort him in bed one night and he really wanted mom instead.

In my experience, being a dad includes many moments when the kids just want mom. Dad may not actually be disgusting, but he is definitely a distant second to mom.

If you are one of the lucky ones and still can, reach out to your mom (or a mom in your life) and say “thanks” today. If your mom’s not around anymore, do something in her memory.

Make it a great day.

Jake

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say ‘thank you?’- William Arthur Ward

I liked this quote because it reminded me of two important lessons.

One is to be thankful.

Just take a few seconds, take a deep breath and say thank you for something.

Second, that we all have the same amount of time in a day.

It is what you do with it that counts.

You can spend your seconds be thankful or being critical.

You can spend them complaining or helping.

You can spend them worrying or moving forward.

You get to pick.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson

I’m not sure if this is what Thomas Jefferson meant, but I imagine this is true when it comes to self-improvement as well.

The first step is being honest with ourselves.

Honest about the victories and the defeats.

Honest about what we are capable of.

Honest about our desires and motivations.

As you look at your goals, are you being honest with yourself?

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” – Laura Ingalls Wilder

As Christmas circles around again and the calendar shows it is officially Christmas season, we begin to remember all of the good feeling Laura Ingalls Wilder describes in this quote.

Each year comes with a choice: embrace the feelings and the season or to let it pass.

As you might suspect, I advocate embracing the season.

Embrace the giving.

Embrace putting others first.

Embrace charity.

Embrace the love felt for your fellow mankind.

Make it a great day.

Jake