I was attending a convention in Salt Lake City a few years ago. It was a nice walk from the hotel to the convention center so I usually passed up the convention shuttle for the opportunity to see this beautiful city on foot. I move at a pretty good clip when I walk and was tolling toward the center when a red-faced salesman-like person came blowing past me cursing a blue streak. I thought the guy was going to blow a gasket so I asked if he was OK.

“I’m late for a meeting,” he replied. “I hate to be late. It drives me nuts. “

“Kinda have a problem with being late, do you?” I inquired.

“I am never late. I pride myself in that.”

“Can I give you a little advice before you have a stroke trying to get there?”

“If your boss knows that you are usually prompt, he or she will also know that there are circumstances that make you late. Chances are pretty good that they’ll accept your apology for being late and move on.”

“I’m sure she will. She is a great person to work with,” he replied.

I went on. “That being true, it seems to me that you have two choices.  You can either get to the meeting late or you can get to the meeting late and pissed off. Sounds like you get to choose.”

I watch the smile spread across his face. “Thanks for that, “he replied. “Going in with an attitude won’t accomplish anything. “

We parted ways as he headed into the building.  I never saw him again but knew he would do well. He had so much drive to be there and do well that he will.

I am one of those people who enjoy my life and make every attempt to help those around me do the same.  I know that this drives some people crazy but I prefer not to make other peoples’ problems mine. Not to say I don’t get down. I do like anyone else and everyone around me knows it. That is when I get my reward. To a person, they will not allow me to stay down. I appreciate that.

I have heard of people who look at the glass as half full and some half empty. I have also known those that dropped the glass and broke it. Being a positive person, I prefer the glass to be full. That does not mean I am always an optimist. I have a tendency to expect the worst and relish the fact that the worst rarely occurs.  

If you are interested enough to read to here, I have a few pointers.

·         As I said before, things will seldom be as bad as we remember them.

·         There can be positive in almost everything we do and experience. It may be that we can find a positive outcome or that we learn from the negative outcome and grow from it.

·         Positive people have a tendency to find more teachable moments because we look for them. It is great fun to share that knowledge and watch another person grow.

·         As a positive person, I see more. I see that armadillo scooting across the road. They are strange fascinating little things. I see the cat near the road that doesn’t look just right. Turns out to be a bobcat. I see the mistletoe in the bois d’arc trees and wonder how many kids gather it each Christmas to have their parents put up in their home. Then they can giggle when their parents kiss.

·         And also, as a positive person, I never eat alone. Everyone is welcome to have a seat, if they can stand having a little fun with their meal.

I was running low on ideas to write about so I wrote this rambler. Think about it. Find good things in your life and use them to brighten the lives of others if they want it.  The key point is that they have a choice. They can choose to live their life or they can live their life pissed. It is their choice!

Stuart

Treasured Pasts