My Attitude

"We awaken in others the same attitude of mind we hold toward them." ~Elbert Hubbard

What is attitude and how does it relate to you and others?

To me it is a core component of not only one's work but is an essential part of one's life. There are people that go through life constantly battling the belief that, "..if only others would treat me more nicely, then I could have a more positive attitude." These people always believe that others are the reason for their misery. And since others are to blame for their feeling this way, then they justify treating others just as poorly. It is an easy way not to take responsibility for your own actions.

I myself would never say it is easy to maintain a great attitude. My drive into work each day leads me to a freeway and lots of merging cars and people including myself that should have left 5 minutes earlier. Road tension can be high especially when you couple that with a general belief that your own driving skill is better then that of anyone else. There is plenty of opportunity for someone to purposely or inadvertently cut you off or send you a signal.

But how do you let it effect you?

Early in the morning, on the way to work, are you willing to let that other person set the tone of the day for you? Many people do and it isn't just the checkout person in the big discount store that allows it to effect themselves. It is also the person taking service calls over the phone, the bank teller handling your money and yes, the CEO on his or her way to an important meeting.

Attitude is a choice and your life can be changed by changing your attitude. Norman Vincent Peale said, "human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes." It can and does change lives. It can start on that morning drive to work. Try it some time when somebody 'wrongs' you on the road. Just smile and keep your hands firmly on the steering wheel. You may be surprised how it changes your day.

Winter Imagination

"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination." ~Terri Guillemets

Winter can be depressing at times. The constant cold wind and snow blanketing the landscape are reminders of its grip on us. In some areas the dull brown fields and bare trees give us a sense that life has opted not to try anymore.

All of this can lead to a feeling of hopelessness. Really kind of depressing isn't it?

But life has not given up, life is in repose, dreaming of the spring which lay ahead. Life itself has an imagination and is planning the wonders that will bud forth in a few months. The flowers, the green grass, and the shade of new leaves exploding forth signaling a new season.

You can take this winter time to dream and imagine of the spring. A new season in your life full of excitement and change. The winter season will allow you to rest and imagine a new and greater season.

When you bud forth into a changed life, your best life, the winter time will have seemed very worthwhile. It can change your life if you allow it to spur your imagination of greater things.

Everyday Art

"Every human is an artist. The dream of your life is to make beautiful art." ~Miguel Angel Ruiz

The definition of art can have several meanings to different people. That in itself tells me that art is in the "eye of the beholder" as the saying goes. It exists within our own mind and sometimes others share the same thought.

But what of those things that do not rise to the level of grand art? Does it make it less artistic?

Each day that I'm up and about, there are moments in which something wonderful or beautiful appear. It may be a cloud formation, the rustling of the winter brown leaves or the turn of a page by my wife. None of these last in time but they do last in my memory.

You have the ability each moment of your day to experience the beauty of life. Sometimes they are collections of art from history's greatest. Sometimes they are the fleeting moments that build a collection of memories.

Allow yourself to look past the ordinary and see the wonders of art in your everyday life. Capture the moments, the sounds and the smells that will fill your memory with a lifetime of good.

Let art be more than a painting on a wall. Let art be a part of your everyday life. Let your life be the art.

Hay for the Winter

"When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field." ~Proverbs 27:25-26

Growing up we had a large alfalfa field which we used to help support the livestock on our farm. When in the early stages of bloom, the purple flowering buds and swaying in a light wind was a beautiful sight to see.

It was also at this point when cutting and baling was performed. We didn't use the old-time sickle but a more modern sickle bar. The sweet smell of freshly cut alfalfa was an amazing thing each time. And carefully we rowed and turned the hay as it dried before baling.

This process would go on through out the season, carefully keeping watch of our fields. The field produced over and over again each time it was cut. We could rely upon the hay field to meet our needs. But it took careful tending not to let the weeds take over and with adequate rainfall these fields kept our livestock well fed. In turn we remained well fed as is the cycle of life on the farm.

Your own life has a field of hay in some form or another. It could be your job, a relationship, or your family. You tend those fields and those fields will produce great things for your life, over and over again.

But notice I didn't say you always take the harvest from the fields of your life. You have to put work and effort into tending those fields. It takes you being engaged to keep the cycle turning.

The fields of your life will continually provide the needs in your life when you keep them well taken care of. The winters of your life will be filled with the harvest of great relationships, and hard work. Keep your eye upon those fields which will feed and warm you when winter comes.

Again the growing season will appear and the cycle of life continues.