Quote of the week from me:

People like to remind me that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. For those who don’t know, some believe it was Albert Einstein who said that. But there is no proof he ever did, and I’d argue that,

“The definition of insanity is giving up.”

Quote of the week from someone else:

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” – Franz Kafka

Quick Optimism

I have become keenly aware of the relationship between our mental and physical selves. These next few sentences could fall into the “Quote’s by me” category but they worked well together for this Monday morning.

The simple truth of “can” and “can’t” comes from the body’s inability to overcome the influence of the mind. You will learn a lot about your mental self when you push the limits of your physical self. This relationship is inevitable and everlasting. Do things you are good at. Do things you are bad at. But be proud of your effort and love your work. Set high goals, embrace their uncertainty, and then finish them. Lastly, enjoy nature, rest, and repeat tomorrow.

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Friends prevent isolation and are good for your health. They offer companionship and often increase your sense of belonging and purpose. They also can increase feelings of happiness, self-worth, confidence, and even reduce the risk of several health problems.

For better or worse, Al Capone believed in quality over quantity, he said, “Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have four quarters than one hundred pennies.”

Hopefully a handful of people came to mind when you read that. I met two of my quarters in preschool and picked up some spare change along the way. I think I now have around $1.75 in my pocket and they all follow this newsletter. You know who you are, love you guys.

It is really fun to imagine my son, Beckett, potentially meeting two of his best friends three years from now. I am glad I am lucky enough to tell him there is a chance you meet more in high school and college. It really is all about quality over quantity, and if you pick up a couple best friends in each stage of life, I’d say you are doing pretty well for yourself.

So how do you pick your friends, and what makes someone a good friend? Confucius believed that our friends reveal who we are. They represent our values, sense of humor, and priorities. He taught that there are good friends and bad, and choosing the right ones was very important.

Making friends and keeping them can be difficult but considering the qualities below might give you a head start when making new friends in preschool or as an adult.

The three types of friends according to Confucius from Yu Dan’s Confucius from the Heart: Ancient Wisdom for Today’s World:

1. Straight or true friends: upright, honest, and fair-minded
2. Loyal and trustworthy friends: honest, sincere, never fake
3. Well-informed friend: possesses a great deal of knowledge about a lot of different things, and has seen a lot of the world

These types of friends will share their knowledge and kindness. They will tell you who you are, how you are, and what you are capable of and where you need to change.

Make it a magnificent Monday.