In life, attitude is everything.  Attitude decides whether we greet the day with joy or with the blahs.  Attitude decides how our family, our friends, our boss and our coworkers perceive us.

It is not the result of circumstance.  It is not genetically predetermined.  Attitude is in our control, we are in charge of our attitude.  Attitude is a choice we make all day, every day.  Attitude is not a habit though attitude can become habit.

It was late afternoon on the first Sunday in December.  I was on my way home from one party with another still to go.  My throat was sore and I was tired.  Mentally, I was debating whether to go.  It would be so easy to slip into something cozy and veg.  Instead, I adjusted my attitude and reminded myself, head up, stand tall, smile, remember your three conversation starters.

It was a life-altering evening!  That evening I met the couple who introduced me to the love of my life.  I would never have known what I missed if I was cozily sitting at home.  I’d never have met my Don.  Just as important, would they have introduced me to their friend if I’d spoken of my sleepiness and sore throat?  Not likely.  Instead, I used the same conversation starters I’d prepared for the earlier party.  My attitude was upbeat, my smile was genuine.

Attitude makes an immense difference in everything we do.  Attitude and the willingness to find out what’s around the next corner. 

Do you remember Mattie Stepanek?  He was wise, he was inspiring and he lived his life fully.  His poetry moved millions.  Sadly, muscular dystrophy took him just before his 14^th birthday.  His disease was tough but his attitude was uplifting.  It was his choice.

Changing one’s attitude is not faking it.  Changing one’s attitude is deciding how we want to live our life and then making it happen.  As Maya Angelou so wisely said, “If you don’t like something, change it.  If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”