“Enjoy the process. In the middle of this is where everything happens.” ~ Dean Sweetman
For life to be enjoyable, your attitude towards that which happens in and around it determines your impact on it. The idea that we want to simply 'get through' life will make it boring and dull. But to try and impact those around you will make it so much more worth while.
In doing so, there will be a process you become a part of. It may be in your job, church, home life or most anything that you engage in. The thing to remember is that you should enjoy that process you are a part of. All of what you do is in that process of life happening around you.
The good, the bad and the boring will happen. To experience each event should be embraced. Once you learn to enjoy it, you can have a large influence on others in your world. Help them to enjoy life or 'the process'. Movement causes change and change creates an impact. Make a positive impact on your life and others.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Life Checking Your Attitude
A busy week on the road so it has been difficult to get any writing done. As I am back home now, a small story to illustrate how your attitude is always being tested.
With air travel these days, fewer planes mean fuller flights, longer lines and sometimes stress in the whole process. So much more could be done by the airlines but I won't go into it at this point. My only thought would be that I'm surprised a major bus company has not yet bought out any of the major airlines.
When boarding for my recent trip, the whole process was not handled very well. It had been a long wait and many in the crowd were getting impatient. I had been in line to board but although my boarding pass was valid, the 'ticket machine' could not read the bar code. I was directed back to the boarding gate desk for another ticket.
Back in line once again and awaiting my turn, my thoughts were that I was handling myself pretty well. I'm staying calm, smiling and understanding to the situation. The gate attendants were attempting to get a second machine working and would direct the 'next' person in line to that machine. Remain calm I said, this will soon be over and you will be in your seat on the plane.
All at once a female passenger could no longer wait and cut in front of me to the next machine. I politely interrupted her but I'm sure the tone of my voice indicated otherwise. We exchanged insincere 'no, you go first' apologies but you know what the underlying meaning of that is. Those types of exchanges are, "hey, you cut in front of me and it was really rude." Followed by the reply, "get lost, I just might be more important than you!" So you get the picture!
Being the gentleman, I do insist that she go first but only through gritting teeth. We make our way onto the plane, I'm sure my seething is noticeable. Down the second aisle of the plane, further back we go. Can it be, please say no, why is this happening? We are sitting next to each other! Who says God has no sense of humor.
We sat in a bit of silence for a short while. But knowing that we have an eight hour flight ahead of us, best to salvage the day. Our talk is at first polite and short but eventually both of us apologize for the small scene. I think to both of our embarassment, the stress of boarding had gotten the best of us. A good laugh then ensued as we talked a bit about attitudes.
In life, situations will occur where your attitude will be tested. It may be on the road as someone cuts you off, you yell something and then the light turns red as you pull up along side them. It may be getting disgruntled at the guy who took that parking space, only to find he is a customer at your business meeting. Or it could be a stressful exchange while waiting to board a plane, only to find out the two of you will be sitting next to each other - for eight hours.
Find ways to check on your own attitude. For if you do not, life will certainly find a way to do it for you.
With air travel these days, fewer planes mean fuller flights, longer lines and sometimes stress in the whole process. So much more could be done by the airlines but I won't go into it at this point. My only thought would be that I'm surprised a major bus company has not yet bought out any of the major airlines.
When boarding for my recent trip, the whole process was not handled very well. It had been a long wait and many in the crowd were getting impatient. I had been in line to board but although my boarding pass was valid, the 'ticket machine' could not read the bar code. I was directed back to the boarding gate desk for another ticket.
Back in line once again and awaiting my turn, my thoughts were that I was handling myself pretty well. I'm staying calm, smiling and understanding to the situation. The gate attendants were attempting to get a second machine working and would direct the 'next' person in line to that machine. Remain calm I said, this will soon be over and you will be in your seat on the plane.
All at once a female passenger could no longer wait and cut in front of me to the next machine. I politely interrupted her but I'm sure the tone of my voice indicated otherwise. We exchanged insincere 'no, you go first' apologies but you know what the underlying meaning of that is. Those types of exchanges are, "hey, you cut in front of me and it was really rude." Followed by the reply, "get lost, I just might be more important than you!" So you get the picture!
Being the gentleman, I do insist that she go first but only through gritting teeth. We make our way onto the plane, I'm sure my seething is noticeable. Down the second aisle of the plane, further back we go. Can it be, please say no, why is this happening? We are sitting next to each other! Who says God has no sense of humor.
We sat in a bit of silence for a short while. But knowing that we have an eight hour flight ahead of us, best to salvage the day. Our talk is at first polite and short but eventually both of us apologize for the small scene. I think to both of our embarassment, the stress of boarding had gotten the best of us. A good laugh then ensued as we talked a bit about attitudes.
In life, situations will occur where your attitude will be tested. It may be on the road as someone cuts you off, you yell something and then the light turns red as you pull up along side them. It may be getting disgruntled at the guy who took that parking space, only to find he is a customer at your business meeting. Or it could be a stressful exchange while waiting to board a plane, only to find out the two of you will be sitting next to each other - for eight hours.
Find ways to check on your own attitude. For if you do not, life will certainly find a way to do it for you.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Change Your Attitude, Cause Change In Your Life
My apologies to those that are regular readers of my blog. I have been on vacation this week along with the graduation of a son, so it has been a busy week. In this time, I have had chance to hear many great and inspirational words from various speakers. Graduation time tends to bring out the inspiring ability of many people.
My son and his graduating class chose a quote by author Barbara Hall that reads, "the path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matter is that we embark." Stop a moment and think about what is being said. Something that I repeat from time to time in my own articles. You will never get to your destination if you do not start.
You can spend nearly your entire life life trying to decide which road to follow. Should I go left should I get that degree, maybe start a business or maybe buy another map. Get up and go...for as I've said many times, "movement causes change." There is nothing keeping you from doing so but your own self limiting thoughts. The world is great and large with loads of opportunity for both failure and success. But you will never find either by sitting still, studying a map, plotting forever the course you want to take.
My sons and daughters are moving and seeing change occur. They as many other young people do will flounder and succeed, disappoint and inspire while finding that which is the course of their lives. They must never forget that in life, you can always change again should they find the road not what they expected, make a move to change.
As we of the older generation should also know is that we too can change. There are many different roads available to us. But the first step is movement, movement towards something and you will see change occur in your life.
Congratulations to all of the newly graduating high school seniors around the world. The same can be said for all of the newly graduated college folks. And finally, congratulations to all of you who have taken those steps in which "movement causes change."
My son and his graduating class chose a quote by author Barbara Hall that reads, "the path to our destination is not always a straight one. We go down the wrong road, we get lost, we turn back. Maybe it doesn't matter which road we embark on. Maybe what matter is that we embark." Stop a moment and think about what is being said. Something that I repeat from time to time in my own articles. You will never get to your destination if you do not start.
You can spend nearly your entire life life trying to decide which road to follow. Should I go left should I get that degree, maybe start a business or maybe buy another map. Get up and go...for as I've said many times, "movement causes change." There is nothing keeping you from doing so but your own self limiting thoughts. The world is great and large with loads of opportunity for both failure and success. But you will never find either by sitting still, studying a map, plotting forever the course you want to take.
My sons and daughters are moving and seeing change occur. They as many other young people do will flounder and succeed, disappoint and inspire while finding that which is the course of their lives. They must never forget that in life, you can always change again should they find the road not what they expected, make a move to change.
As we of the older generation should also know is that we too can change. There are many different roads available to us. But the first step is movement, movement towards something and you will see change occur in your life.
Congratulations to all of the newly graduating high school seniors around the world. The same can be said for all of the newly graduated college folks. And finally, congratulations to all of you who have taken those steps in which "movement causes change."
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Attitude On The Airwaves
As a rule I tend not to listen to radio or TV talk shows of those such as Rush Limbaugh, Ed Schultz or Bill O'Reilly. Around the dial you will find conservative, liberal and a few middle of the road types. Many have shows that bring out opinions of varying intensity which really can be informative for people to consider. Nor would I want to deny people to have or listen to the opinions of their talented hosts.
What I do find on all of them is a certain 'mean' attitude towards others at varying times. I would not call these shows cruel always but I do find that it happens with a certain regularity. In life as you debate or make a point, one can get very passionate about their belief. On these talk shows though, it is about ratings and ultimately the money. I would dare to say that none of the hosts does it strictly for the ability to change public opinion.
The media companies that carry their shows are not in it strictly for public service. It comes back to the ratings and money. So I certainly understand how our public discourse through these shows can become very bi-polar. You see I firmly believe that a vast majority of people live closer to the middle.
So to get beyond a political discussion, which is not my intent to discuss but to talk of how points are made. Many times in the talk, those that are simply trying to get through life the best way they know how are the recipient of a sometimes cruel oratory. Sometimes it is for the ratings and sometimes for driving home a point. Do you find yourself doing the same?
Life is complicated and all of us do the best we can. When you take out your rage on others or use them in a mean fashion, what does that make you? I'm not asking, 'gee, if life were all flowers and candy." What I am saying is that you do not have to take out your rage on others or even belittle others to make your point.
When you find yourself in such a situation, politely and quietly excuse yourself from it. Turn off the radio or change the channel. There will be plenty others left to listen to the noise. Your life is too important to you and moving on is better. Allow yourself not to be stressed out by that level of discussion on a daily basis. Find new ways to engage in the conversation for talking and more importantly listening is how we grow. Adapt to a new way of life, calm the noise and distractions for a better you.
What I do find on all of them is a certain 'mean' attitude towards others at varying times. I would not call these shows cruel always but I do find that it happens with a certain regularity. In life as you debate or make a point, one can get very passionate about their belief. On these talk shows though, it is about ratings and ultimately the money. I would dare to say that none of the hosts does it strictly for the ability to change public opinion.
The media companies that carry their shows are not in it strictly for public service. It comes back to the ratings and money. So I certainly understand how our public discourse through these shows can become very bi-polar. You see I firmly believe that a vast majority of people live closer to the middle.
So to get beyond a political discussion, which is not my intent to discuss but to talk of how points are made. Many times in the talk, those that are simply trying to get through life the best way they know how are the recipient of a sometimes cruel oratory. Sometimes it is for the ratings and sometimes for driving home a point. Do you find yourself doing the same?
Life is complicated and all of us do the best we can. When you take out your rage on others or use them in a mean fashion, what does that make you? I'm not asking, 'gee, if life were all flowers and candy." What I am saying is that you do not have to take out your rage on others or even belittle others to make your point.
When you find yourself in such a situation, politely and quietly excuse yourself from it. Turn off the radio or change the channel. There will be plenty others left to listen to the noise. Your life is too important to you and moving on is better. Allow yourself not to be stressed out by that level of discussion on a daily basis. Find new ways to engage in the conversation for talking and more importantly listening is how we grow. Adapt to a new way of life, calm the noise and distractions for a better you.
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