Always keep a good attitude in life

Someone once said that if we are not getting from life as much as we want to, then we should examine the state of our attitude. The following story, whose author is unknown, gives us a great example concerning the importance of attitude.

The 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud mother-in-law of my best friend, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.

Maurine Jones is the most lovely, gracious, dignified woman that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. While I have never aspired to attain her depth of wisdom, I do pray that I will learn from her vast experience.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided her with a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. “Mrs. Jones, you have not even seen the room, just wait.” “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged, it’s how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it.

“It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer works, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I will focus on the new day and all that happy memories I have stored away, just for this time in life.

“Old age is like a bank account, you withdraw from what you have put in. So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in your bank account of memories.”

Attitude is so important in life whether you are young, middle age, or growing old. It makes all the difference in the world. Maurine Jones proved this to us as she lives out her years in a different location and under completely different circumstances.

Let me share with you another story about attitude. An ancient grandmother lived with her daughter and grandson. As she grew frail and feeble, instead of being a help around the house, she became a constant trial.

She broke plates and cups, lost knives and spilled water. One day, exasperated because the aging woman had broken another precious plate, the daughter sent the grandson to buy his grandmother a wooden plate.

The boy hesitated because he knew a wooden plate would humiliate his grandmother. But his mother insisted, so off he went. He returned, bringing not one, but two wooden plates.

“I only asked you to buy one,” his mother said, “Didn’t you hear me?” “Yes,” the boy said. “But I bought the second one so there would be one for you when you get old.”

Attitude comes in to play in the above story, but in the opposite light as the wonderful attitude of Maurine Jones. Most definitely the daughter in the second story needs an attitude adjustment.

The old saying that the world is a looking glass and gives back to every person the reflection of his or her own face is so true. The world also gives back to us just what our attitude will allow it to give. Keep your attitude positive!

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