Lunch Box Wisdom 13 Nov 2015...

Lunch Box Wisdom 13 Nov 2015...  

" Start each day with a grateful heart! "

It's that simple.  It really is.  Starting your day like this will change how you view every event you encounter the entire day. It is a key success behavior.  Jeff Olson, the writer of "The Slight Edge" calls Gratitude "a powerful creative force".  As a Star Wars fan, that was a pretty good way to get me to read the book.  Referring to the force and all ;-)

I hear what your saying to your self right now... "Come on, if it was that easy every one would do just that."  That is the gotcha... not everyone will do the simple small things to make their life better. Those who choose to be grateful every day find they have more of what they need to stay positive all day. And they spend way less time finding fault with others... they become masters of their own destiny.  That was not a Star Wars reference, well not directly any way...

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend."

~Melody Beattie

Gratitude is that small success to start your day.  Its like making your bed each day... a simple small act that completes the first win of the day.  So no matter what else happens that day, you have conquered the messy bed monster and covered your resting place with pelt of that unruly beast! OK, maybe its not quite as dramatic at your house, but at my house, that bed is a beast and the dogs like it much better when its made. Plus it gives Opie the chance to turn down the bed at night for us, or just a fun place to roll around ( post bath Opie ) .

And yes, Opie turns down the bed.  He might just be trying to get warm, but it's still cute. I will make a video of it soon.

So give it a try... be thankful you are awake, be grateful you have another chance to make you life great, and give gratitude for this wonderful day. You can do it.  I believe in you :-)

Have a great day folks!

~ Lost sends...

Lunch Box Wisdom 12 Nov 2015...

Lunch Box Wisdom 12 Nov 2015...  

" Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try! "

Have you ever struggle with a "go" or "no-go" decision.  The paralyzing feeling of not knowing which way to go? Or just the Red or Blue pill?  I have, and I hate when I am stuck what if'ing my self silly.

When I feel that slow dread of what if, I remind my self that every journey starts with just one step. The initial action gets the ball rolling, but you have to decide to take that action. The worry will never get you moving... the fear will only feed its self and paralyze you.  So make the decision, make it now and don't hesitate.  Hesitation can steel your momentum.

"On the plains of hesitation bleach the bones of countless millions who, at the dawn of decision, sat down to wait, and waiting died."  ~ Sam Ewing ( brainyquote.com )

I am not saying jump off the cliff... that is what followers do.  They allow someone else to make their decisions and just jump.  What I am saying is make a conscious decision, and take action on that decision.

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”

― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Don't let the unknown keep you from moving.  You have a great potential... greater then you know. And that itch you feel, the one that has you pondering if you can really make a difference, it's just waiting for you to decide to be great.  You can do it, I believe in you :-)

Have a great day folks!

~ Lost sends...

Lunch Box Wisdom 11 Nov 2015...

Lunch Box Wisdom 11 Nov 2015...

" You Knock my socks off!"

My sweet wife Wendy sends some notes that are just simply awesome.  She knows when I need to know she cares. The phrase actually started with a slightly different connotation ( see why here ).  I like what my Wendy is saying here and she knows she means the world to me.

We don't always get along and that is mostly because I am a bit hard to deal with sometimes.  But only some times.  The rest of the time I am my normal old song singing, silly selfie taking, random party dancing, cartoon voice impersonating self.  The myth, the legend, the BatDad Emulating, Jack Black wanna be... and several other things you can only truly experience by watching my antics on YouTube ( https://www.youtube.com/c/thomaskirkham )  kinda guy.

Regardless of what we are up to in our lives, we like to make it fun and we hope to " knock each others socks off. " :-)

Being Nov 11th, we cannot forget to thank our Veterans for all they do for us.  I posted this note on Face book today and every year at this time I post it again...

A Simple Thank you to all who have served and those who still serve. 

Long is the struggle, deep is the sacrifice, and none know it better then those who have born the weight of freedom squarely on their shoulders. We stand ever vigilant and ready to defend our homes, our families and our freedom. May every Veteran know today and every day, I am thankful for you and your efforts.

I served in the USAF from 1990 to 2001.  I took my family with me across the world and enjoyed so many wonderful places. I also saw some the of the most difficult situations and the way service members band together to overcome impossible odds to protect their homes and families so far away. Each and every day they risk life and limb for others they don't even know and who will never understand why they do it.  Its not done for glory, its not done for fame... they serve because its what must be done.  Should the call ever come, I will gladly stand beside them again.

Thank you Veterans, Current and Future service members... for my freedom and for your service.

Have a great day folks! 

~ Lost sends...

Lunch Box Wisdom 10 November 2015...

"Think big and don't listen to people who will tell you it can't be done. Life's too short to think small." ~ Tim Ferris

I was told as a kid to dream big and shoot for the stars. So even if you miss you will still have great experiences and even better stories. I want to be the guy that people look at and say, " I never knew he could do that."  or  " How did he figure that out? "  You can too.

Yes, There will always be nay-sayers out there trying to keep you down and focused on small thoughts.  Things like, I am not good enough or I am not smart enough.  That is all just part of the challenge you face.  Misery loves company and truly miserable people will disguise their self doubt by putting you down. Don't listen to the negative and don;t get sucked in... Dream BIG!

You can over come anything and rise to great heights.  You just have believe you can and take the first step and then get back up every time you fall.  I believe in you... now go conquer all your fears.  And never, ever stop Dreaming :-)

Have a great day folks!

~ Lost sends...

Lunch Box Wisdom 9 November 2015...

"Getting and inch of snow is like winning 10 cents in the lottery. ~ Calvin ( Bill Watterson )" 

I am a big fan of Calvin and Hobbes. So when my Wendy is out of town, I write my self a Calvin and Hobbes Quote.  I felt this one was great for November since I am dreaming of snow.

 When I was a kid we had so much more snow then we have now.  Or I was just a lot shorter.  Either way, I am spending time making sacrifices to the snow gods and hoping for our first snow day of the year with my finger crossed.

Does it snow where you are?  Do you love snow or hate it?  let me know :-)

Have a great day folks!  

Oh, and one of my favorite quote from Calvin...

"It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ buddy…Let’s go exploring! ~ Calvin ( Bill Watterson )" 
-- Sixteen things Calvin and Hobbes said better then anyone else --

Lunch Box Wisdom 29 July 2015...

"If your not willing to learn, no one can help you.  If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you." 

Great advice in this one.  Your attitude can change everything in life.  You can be working the worst job for the worst pay and if you are thankful and positive your life will be filled.  The second piece of advice in this note is about having the willingness to learn.  That reminds me of a story about a wise old man and his apprentice....

The apprentice asked, " Master,  how will I become as wise as you?" 

The wise master led his apprentice to the ocean and proceeded to dunk him and hold under the water.  The apprentice was calm at first and soon he began to struggle.  He flailed and fought with all his strength until he freed himself from his masters grasp.  

He came out the water gasping for air and cried, " why would you do such a thing to me. I only  wished to learn from you." 

The master calmly replied, " when you wish to learn as earnestly as you wanted to be free and breathe, then you will truly study with all your heart and learn all I know and more."

It's a pretty rough way to learn, but the point is still valid... " if you are determined to learn, no one can stop you."

Be determined to learn, let nothing distract you from you goals and you will reach them...

Welcome to Lunch Box Wisdom...

Welcome to Lunch Box Wisdom...

Here I will publish the notes my wife puts in my lunches. Some are funny, some are sweet and some contain great wisdom.  The trick is to find how it applies to you and your life.

Maybe you will be inspired, or laugh, or even cry... Who knows... but what ever you feel, it might be what you needed that day or what your fiends or loved ones needed that day.  I have found that each note means something different to each person.

I have been sharing them on my social networking for a while and I have gotten such wonderful feed back that I decided to blog about them.  I am hoping they reach you when you need them most and that maybe you share them with some one who needs a little note in their life.  :-)

I have lots of older ones to post and the new ones she gives me each day. I will post several a day until I get caught up.  I home you enjoy them as much as I have!

~ Lost sends...