Look for the * for today’s advice.
YOU ARE BETTER THAN BRAD PITT DAY
Joseph Stalin 1878
As a planned centralised economy, the Soviet regime ran everything according to the pyatiletka (the five-year plan). Stalin even wanted to make the film industry work on the same lines. Often they were as much a complete fantasy as their claimed fulfilment or more likely ‘over-fulfilment’.
*As we approach the end of the year, take today to write down your “pyatiletka” – your 5-year plan. Hopefully it includes 365DOLF as part of your life for the next 5 years. Every year a new 365DOLF will be released, or you can follow the same plan every year.
Ty Cobb 1886
When Ty went to try out for a team, his father told him, “Don’t come home a failure.”
*When you go to the gym today, don’t come home a failure. Do your favorite workout that you’ve learned this year – one that you know will bring you success.
Ray Liotta 1954
As a parent, you just want to set your kids up for life because, even if you have all the faith in the world, there will always be challenges. You just want them to have the ability to deal with what comes. As they say, when you pray
you never ask for anything directly you just ask God for the ability to make decisions. You hope
that your kids will make the right decisions and you thank God for the ability to make those decisions. Not: “Gimme. I want.”
Pray for WISDOM & DISCERNMENT
Father, I need wisdom that only your Spirit can give me. Help me to not lean solely on my own opinions, thoughts, or dreams — or what my society, culture, and circle have to say. I need godly — not earthly — wisdom, Lord. Please supply me in knowledge and truth as I battle these tough decisions and uncertainty. Father, open my eyes to the barriers holding me back from spiritual progress and help me to walk confidently as I discern the next steps I need to take in my life.
*When you pray today, ask God for the ability to make decisions. Pray that your kids will make the right decisions. And thank God for the ability to make decisions.
Steven Spielberg 1946
You Don’t Need a College Degree To Do What You Want To Do
“You shouldn’t dream your film, you should make it!” – Steven Spielberg
Although his three films, Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), and Jurassic Park (1993), broke box office records, each becoming the highest-grossing film made at the time, earning billions and billions of dollars worldwide, Mr. Spielberg, when he was younger, was perceived as untalented and was thrice denied entry into UCLA film school.
The 12-time Oscar nominee (3 wins), was eventually admitted at California State University, but he dropped out in 1968 to do, guess what? – Make films.
*It doesn’t matter what you’ve been told, or what people perceive you as. Do what you want to do. Don’t dream your business – make it!
Christina Aguilera 1980
Aguilera’s vocal abilities have long been compared to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and her chameleonic style and image contrasted with that of Madonna and Cher.
*Listen to 6-time Grammy winner Xtina’s music all day. Or you could take online singing lessons from her.
Brad Pitt 1963 – Better Than Brad Pitt Cake
In that same vein, a cookbook now celebrates the gorgeous glutton, reimagining every dish he’s stuffed his beautiful face with.
Cheekily named “Fat Brad,” the cookbook, published by Melbourne-based Long Prawn, is full of recipes developed by real chefs, from a Bellagio Shrimp Cocktail (“Ocean’s Eleven”) to a seafood bisque (“Fight Club”).
*Listen to Christina Aguilera while making the Better Than Brad Pitt Cake. Order the Fat Brad book to make more elaborate Brad Pitt food on his birthday next year.
SNUB – Katie Holmes
- Establish your 5-year plan
- Go to the gym – don’t come home a failure
- Pray for wisdom and discernment
- Don’t dream it – do it
- Listen to Christina Aguilera
- Make the Better Than Brad Pitt Cake