ATTITUDE 

Attitude! Is a small thing that makes a BIG difference! Notice the picture and what happens when one drop of water hits a big body of water.

Webster's dictionary defines it this way:

1. A mental position with regard to a fact or state;
2. A feeling or emotion toward a fact or state;

I truly believe a "proper" attitude is necessary for one's well being. Attempting to live life to it's fullest, while watching a world around us with people running, dancing, doing all the things we feel is necessary to be alive is difficult, to say the least.

However, we do have a choice! Every person, man, woman or child has a choice each morning upon awaking. That choice is to have a good day, or a bad day. Well, I choose to have a good day. They are so much more fun than the bad days. And most days are a matter of mind over matter.

It is important to focus on the things we can do; not the things we can no longer do. To find joy at whatever stage we are in. To inspire others, by just doing the best we can each day of our lives. Sure, we are still going to have the gloom and doom days. I do. But, I attempt not to stay there. Not to dwell there for too long. And to not accept too many guilt trips for the way I feel or the way I have felt. But to move on and keep moving on.

I find it exciting to learn new avenues - computers instead of jogging; reading instead of mountain climbing; sky-diving instead of jumping; learning a new business - real estate instead of furniture; creative art work instead of the mall; researching MS alternatives instead of moping around, etc. I am looking forward to friends taking me snowmobiling this winter in the Cascade mountains. Sure, if I fall off - I won't be able to get out of the snow bank without help, but..........I am willing - and so are my friends.

Reading inspirational books about other's successes in dealing with situations that life has dealt them. Reading the Bible and seeing what the world did to the best, kindest, most loving man who ever lived; and what the world did to those who attempted to follow Him; to read Job's life and how he handled all the adversity placed in his life - exciting, besides being a source of strength for me.

This life is so short, even for the healthy, good-bodied people. That's inspiration enough to gain a positive attitude and look life in the eye; live it to the fullest; go for all the gusto we can get, while not hurting others.

How about giving talks to encourage others? I have done this...and.....I am no public speaker. It is rewarding to have people come up afterwards and say you inspired them.

We all have our down days....watch the people around you. Most good-bodied people have just as many, if not more, bad "attitude" days than we have. The rich have as many problems, maybe more, than the poor.

Different strokes for different folks. Different people - different problems.

Mother Teresa wrote the following in her book ""A Simple Faith".

"The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or Leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for. We can cure most physical diseases with medicine, but the only cure for loneliness, despair, and hopelessness is love. There are many in the world who are dying for a piece of bread, but there are many more dying for a little love. The poverty in the West is a different kind of poverty - it is not only a poverty of loneliness but also of spirituality. There's a hunger for love, as there is a hunger for God."
Let's go out and show love to someone. Perhaps in doing that we can find our own source of "strength".

ATTITUDE.............what's ours going to be?

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