We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.- Mother Teresa

Simple reminder today.

Smile.

A lot.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love. – Hamilton Wright Mabie

A great part of Christmas is that we’re all (most of us) in on it.

We’ve decided to try to be nicer, more generous and all around better people to each other for a couple of weeks a year.

Maybe not the perfect system, but it’s a good place to start.

Decide to be in on it this year. A conspiracy of love. To love others more for the season (to start).

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/7r3VVMUhAxU?si=sfH1aV5JPPAesFTz

Joy to the world!

Joy is one of my personal goals lately.

To seek for and live out joy in my life.

It’s so easy to get distracted by all the stuff.

To get frustrated and down.

To let the news and the worries of life win out.

Christmas is a time of joy.

God sent his son to save us!

Merry Christmas.

Jake

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Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have. – Margaret Mead

I think of this quote often at our little group of companies.

We aren’t quite doing a bazillion dollars in business or making the Forbes list, but we are making a difference.

We are influencing each other and our clients in ways we can’t imagine.

How we work together and the values we build into the culture of who we are will have a lasting impact on all of us.

It’s no small thing. What we do matters.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward

I read or watched something once that proved this out.

They studied people thinking about someone they were grateful for, writing a letter to someone they were grateful or calling that someone.

The group that made the call had more joy (Jake’s word for it, I’m sure they called it something fancy and smart sounding).

Make the call today.

Tell someone you are grateful for them.

Be honest, sincere and specific.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. – Irv Kupcinet

This may or may not be an accurate description of me.

I tend to decide that I’m done with sugar and stuff around this time of the year….and then put off doing anything about it until after the new year…

So….don’t do what I do.

You can make change now.

No reason to wait until the year is over.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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https://youtu.be/k_eo76lM7iw?si=tfzJC4Y6csm95gSb

Well, Thanksgiving weekend is over and we’re off to the races.

The mad dash towards Christmas and the end of the year.

I’d like to suggest we all change things up and drastically simplify our plans. Avoid all the consumerism and focus on our friends and family. Be generous to others instead of buying more stuff.

Instead, I’ll suggest we slow down…just a little.

Listen to the words of your favorite Christmas song.

Pause and breathe when you hop in your car before putting it into gear and heading out to the next thing.

It really is a wonderful time of year, make sure you don’t miss it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Thanksgiving is a time to remember to give thanks.

It’s easy to think about our families, jobs, and the other big things we are thankful for.

This verse reminds us to be thankful for everything.

I was listening to a podcast the other day where they said “I believe that life is working for me.” Both the good and the bad are happening for me. And for that I can be thankful.

Not just the easy stuff, the hard stuff too.

Being thankful is harder, but better.

Remember to be thankful for EVERYTHING this Thanksgiving.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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“He was like nice, all the time.” – Brian Welch

https://youtu.be/WfYMRD_IyK4?si=moi49n2ONH7UY4r5

The YouTube rabbit hold led me to this video last night.

It’s an interview with Brian Welch from the band Korn. In it he tells his own personal story of redemption.

The line above stuck out to me. He was talking about a friend he made when he was 11 or 12 and how he and his family were Christians.

It stood out to him that his friend was nice – all the time.

What a great example that young man was – just by being nice.

It led to an amazing story a few decades later. All because somebody decided to live out their values in an authentic way.

Something seemingly small and unimportant made a difference in one man’s life.

We have this same opportunity every day.

Let’s make the most of it.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. – William Arthur Ward

Being thankful is the beginning of a better and more full life.

When we are thankful for what we have we transform our attitude and prepare ourselves for more of the same.

Think of an area of your life where you want to see a change.

Find something in that area to be thankful for.

Maybe an example would help.

Let’s say you wanted to save some money.

First, be thankful for whatever money you do have.

Treat that little bit as if it were a blessing that you get the opportunity to steward.

And then you will have the attitude it will take to start adding more.

Make it a great day.

Jake

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