Thelma shares with us the secret of her positive attitude. ~ Kathy
Positive Thinking, Positive Attitude
This is a subject that I have made a part of my life. That's right - having a positive outlook on life was not something that I did automatically, it was something I had to learn how to do. It is also something that you have to continually work at because you can at times lose sight of it.
I was 14 years old when my father died. That was the first time I realized that life can throw you some rough blows, but you can overcome them if you push ahead and think of the future. My stepmother became the Wicked Witch of the West, my life was totally in turmoil, but I kept telling myself - with my first positive thoughts - that I will be 18 soon and then I can get out and be my own person and make my own life. Which is exactly what I did. That way of thinking got me through those years. I am not saying it is easy. There have been many times since then when I have had to face other obstacles, as everyone has to, and I even let depression take control for a while. But I always looked back to my teen years and thoughts, and fully believed that the sunshine is there if you just look hard enough. I even today lose myself sometimes, I mean come on, it is awful hard to be nice all the time. :)
Positivity Everywhere
When students ask me to sign their yearbooks, I sign all of them with the same message, "Life is what you make it, so make it a good one." Sure, life is always going to throw you stumbling blocks - and even boulders at times - but you can overcome them as long as you think you can, and push ahead.
You can find a positive in almost every negative if you look hard and long enough - and if you want to. That is a very important part of the steps to positive attitudes. You have to want to. Common sense makes you wonder who wouldn't want to see the sunshine instead of the rain? Who wouldn't want to see the good in people instead of the bad?
It's All Up to You
Ok I have gone on and on about positive thinking and attitude. I guess the point I wanted to get across was that it is all up to you. You have to decide for yourself if you would rather look at the bright side of things and move ahead, or just keep trudging along accepting defeat. The way you see life will largely determine what you get out of it.
I will end this with two little thoughts from a book called "Positive Charges" by Alexander Lockhart. I turn to it when I need reinforcements. You may want to copy these down and put them on your refrigerator to read when the negative waves try to take over.
"Believe that if it's meant to be it's up to me."
"Recognize that you've had troubles before, and you managed to survive them."
An Additional Thought
Look On The Bright Side
We can see a shining rainbow
If we look beyond the rain
Find strength to face our losses
If we're thankful for each gain
We can pick the lovely roses
If the thorns don't get us down
And spend so much time smiling
That we'll never think to frown
We can climb the steepest mountain
If our eyes turn toward the sun
It's really up to us to make
Our world a better one.
(Author unknown)
