The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. – Mahatma Gandhi

Yesterday we were lucky enough to volunteer with our small group and put on a tea party for some foster kids.

Every time I’ve done something like that I’m reminded that being of service to others is a pretty good way to spend a day.

Seeing the smiles on their faces and working together with the group was a great experience.

We all have this opportunity every day.

To serve those around us – loved ones, coworkers, customers, etc.

We can have and be more if we can learn to serve more – with love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Today is all you got.

It is the only time in which you can make the difference you want to.

It is the only time you can share the love you were meant to share.

It is the only time you can do the work you were meant to do.

Make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Laziness may appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction. – Anne Frank

Monday morning reminder – work gives satisfaction.

We were made to be productive and to make this a better place for us, our families and future generations.

Sitting around doing nothing is bad for you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/lR1Hk0FVi_k?si=AuxfCd54iX93E5Jg

One weird byproduct of the COVID thing is that we have memories and songs like this.

Moments where we were all separate but together (or at least wanted to be).

These memories should remind us to be grateful for the togetherness we get to experience in our lives.

Make it a point to enjoy the time together you get with loved ones, friends and coworkers.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Don’t find fault. Find a remedy." – Henry Ford

Finding faults in ourselves and others is the easy way out.

If you look for them, there will be plenty.

All of us are imperfect in our own ways. All of us fall short at one point or another.

What if we looked for the good in ourselves and others?

What if we looked for solutions instead of making excuses?

Focusing our efforts on improvement and progress instead of excuses and complaints will make us happier, healthier and more successful.

Take care today to focus on the positive.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Every charitable act is a stepping stone toward heaven. – Henry Ward Beecher

I think of this in CS Lewis’s terms as he describes charity as one of the four loves. Charity in his description is love of our fellow mankind.

Every loving act is a stepping stone toward heaven.

We build our way to a better future through loving actions toward those around us.

One smile, kind gesture or kind word at a time leads towards something better for all of us.

What could you do today to act out this in your own life?

What words might you choose?

What actions might you take?

What might you do differently to create an environment where love could rule in your life?

Make it a great day.

Jake

The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. – Jean Paul

Classic old person quote today.

This seems more and more true to me as I age.

Experience creates clarity.

Or at least the appearance of clarity.

For some, this leads to the trap of crankiness and skepticism. Nobody else gets it and can’t see they are doing it wrong?

For others, it leads to tenderness, peace and contentment.

Just because we can see more clearly, doesn’t mean we have the right perspective. We must still carefully choose how we respond to the clarity.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“It’s not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can’t tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself.”

– Joyce Maynard

Maggie turned 19 yesterday.

It’s funny, as she gets older I think about all of the life lessons I wish I had a chance to talk to her about.

But then I realize how many I have left to learn myself.

It’s a new kind of challenge – being the kind of parent and father that she deserves.

This is so true of all of our important relationships in life – we work on ourselves so that we become and be more for those we love. Not for our own selfish desires.

Make it a great day.

Jake

http://youtu.be/2H5uWRjFsGc

Obvious theme on this one.

“Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom.” – George Patton

Make it a great day.

Jake

Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself. – Henry Ward Beecher

Part of becoming someone better is raising your standards for yourself.

Learning to become the kind of person who does x instead of y.

It becomes part of your identity and something you couldn’t go against if you tried.

We must choose carefully. Attaching our identities to fool’s gold like money or physical fitness has its own risks.

Choosing to be honest or loving or selfless on the other hand will pay off in the end.

Make it a great day.

Jake