The temperature will hit 103 F (39.44 C) today in south Texas. Bring it on. I love the heat. I’ve got iced team in the fridge. The air conditioner is working fine. I’ll lather on some sunscreen and go for walk (while it’s still cool (in the nineties – lol). We can’t change our weather. We can change our attitude toward it. That’s how it is with a lot of the circumstances we find ourselves in. We can always find a way to make it a great day. Hope you’re having one.
attitude
Today’s Quote: Our Attitude Determines Our Altitude
Are you going to let the obstacles in your life be stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Choose the positive. You are the master of your attitude. ~ Bruce Lee
Today’s Poem: Keep A-Goin’!
Keep A-Goin’!
Frank Lebby Stanton
Ef you strike a thorn or rose,
Keep a-goin’!
Ef it hails, or ef it snows,
Keep a-goin!
‘Taint no use to sit an’ whine,
When the fish ain’t on yer line;
Bait yer hook an’ keep a-tryin’—
Keep a-goin’!
When the weather kills yer crop,
Keep a-goin’!
When you tumble from the top,
Keep a-goin’!
S’pose you’re out of every dime,
Bein’ so ain’t any crime;
Tell the world you’re feelin’ prime—
Keep a-goin’!
When it looks like all is up,
Keep a-goin’!
Drain the sweetness from the cup,
Keep a-goin’!
See the wild birds on the wing,
Hear the bells that sweetly ring,
When you feel like sighin’ sing—
Keep a-goin’!
Today’s Thought: It’s Not the Gift That Counts
Have you ever spent lots of time trying to pick out the perfect gift for someone? You find it and and know the person you gift it to will love it. When you gift it, you can see the expression on the other person’s face. They don’t like it. They may say thank you, but you know it’s either going back to the store, regifted, or tossed out. It’s happened to me. One thing is for sure, we can’t control other people and how they respond. We can control our reaction and our attitude. In this case, we expressed our love through our time and careful choice of the right gift. That will never change. We can thank the receiver of the gift for teaching us a great lesson: always be grateful. The gift wasn’t the physical present. It was the effort and love behind it.
Today’s Thought: Attitude Matters
I’m an early riser. By 5:30 a.m. I’m doing pushups, stretching, and core exercises. I’ve always been an early riser. I get excited for the day. Each day is like a birthday present that I can’t wait to unwrap. Some days I’d like to take to the exchange counter, but they are the rare ones. Most days turn out to be exactly what I hoped for. Attitude makes a big differences in how one feels and how things seem to turn out.
Inspiring Quote: It’s Our Choice
Mishaps are like knives, that either serve us or cut us, as we grasp them by the blade or the handle. ~ James Russell Lowell
Today’s Thought: There’s Always a Chance
Last evening I was watching a thriller on TV. During one scene, a frightened man says to the protagonist, “Were done for, it’s all over.” The protagonist responds, “No. You don’t know that.” The protagonist’s comment struck me as profound. He was spot on. Even though the odds may seem stacked against us, we don’t know what lies ahead. All we have is this moment, our mind, and a skill set. If we don’t quit, if we keep doing all that we can do, we can turn the odds in our favor. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but what we do today can greatly influence what tomorrow brings.
Thinking Out Loud: You are Strong
Are you going to let the obstacles in your life be stumbling blocks or stepping stones? Choose the positive. You are the master of your attitude. ~ Bruce Lee
NOTE: I’ve witnessed it hundreds of times where someone encounters a setback and stops. The person makes a decision to quit his/her pursuit and changes his/her direction. When they make the decision to quit, they are often close to the finish line. In higher education, students who quit when pursuing a doctorate often get through all the course work. They find the dissertation too difficult. They become known as ABD’s (all but the dissertation). Stumbling blocks become stepping stones when we refuse to quit, desire to learn from our missteps, and develop the patience to endure whatever is tossed at us. Each obstacle we overcome adds to a cumulative effect that prepares us for the future obstacles we’ll face. You are strong. You’re getting stronger. Never quit.
