My Attitude...

04/14/2009

I am a happy guy and I know it is nothing more than my attitude.  It does not take a whole lot of anything to make me happy, a nice cold beer can do that; however, there are a few things I must do each day to keep me in this mode.

1. I must begin each day declaring “This will be the best day ever.” That doesn’t take lot effort but it puts the proper perspective into play, and it can be done verbally or mentally.  Screaming it is the best.  For this I owe my granddaughter Vivienne, who says it but does not always mean it.
2. I have to say to someone other than The Nancy, “I love you.” I get to tell The Nancy “I love you” many times each and everyday, but it just makes me feel good to let others know how I feel about them.  Regardless of what you think, we are all connected, one Soul.
3. I need to make someone, especially someone I do not know, smile.  It makes me feel as though if they smile I may be changing their attitude, at least for a little while.
4. I need to do something nice for someone else.  Call it a random act of kindness, if you wish, but just something by going a little bit out of my way.  This makes me smile.
5. I need to flirt with a child, but I don’t always see them each and every day. 
6. And I have to end my day by thanking The Nancy for being my wife.

I think by accepting everything in my life as my life, and my life as good, how could anything be bad.  This may puzzle you, but it makes life easier for me.  I accept sickness and death as part of life.  I accept tragedy as part of life.  I accept problems as part of life.  Moreover, I accept full responsibility for how I am, and I am happy.

In the movie “The Little Big Man” the old Indian chief tells Little Big Man (Dustin Hoffman), “It is a good day to die.” I loved that line.  It says a lot about attitude.

We all ask people how they are, whether we care or not.  Most of us ask this just to be nice, something to say.  People ask me that and I reply, “If I were any better I’d be twins.” Sometimes I add, “It’s just another day in Paradise.” And if I am really feeling good about my best day ever I may add, “Hell, I had such a great day yesterday, I decided to do it over again today.” It is funny how many times people will look up at me and smile…and that makes my day!

On this best day ever I am flying to Louisville.  Below me are the clouds and the rain.  Above is a ubiquitous, cloudless blue sky illuminated by the Sun having its best day ever.  All is right with the world and with me.  It is a good day to die.

And that is all I have to say about that.