Today feels like a new day for me.
It's my first day back in the office (after a brief vacation with a long drive to and from Nebraska to see a whole bunch of family).
It's the first day of school - 3rd grade, 1st grade, and even preschool.
It feels like fall (after 10 days of weather in the 90s).
I have a renewed energy today - I'm excited about the things on my calendar and my "to-do" list.
I read a chapter called "Attitude" today from John Maxwell's book "Developing the Leader Within You." Here are a couple of quotes I want to keep track of...the first from Charles Swindoll:
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, or a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. Nor can we change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We also cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you--we are in charge of our attitudes." (Charles Swindoll, Improving Your Serve)
And...this is reportedly a plaque on the office of Arnold Palmer:
"If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you'd like to win but think you can't, it's almost certain you won't.
Life's battles don't always go to the stronger or faster man,
But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can."
On a bumper sticker: "Misery is an choice."
I'm not sure I think that attitude is EVERYTHING but I do think that my attitude is a choice and that I am responsible for my attitude. Today I am choosing to see God's hand at work in the work I am called to do. Today I am choosing to believe that good and faithful things are happening in and around me. Today I am choosing to seek God in all that I do. Today I am choosing a joyful and grateful attitude.
