attitude

I have learned that our attitude really shapes experiences in our lives. You can have the attitude of what i like to call : the victim. This is where you see all the negative and wonder why people are picking on you, or that everyone is out to hurt you. THis type of attitude makes life more difficult than it is meant to be. It is easy to slip into this role, when people tell you how so many people have wronged you or that you don't deserve all the problems that have come your way. You may not have deserved them, but the truth is, without those experiences you will not progress and grow. THe second attitude is what i like to call the champion. The champion attitude is someone who no matter what finds the silver lining. They take the trials and problems and turns them into experiences that strengthen them. They build characteristics from the. They are quick to forgive and see everyone as people they can trust. If that trust is broken, they understand that everyone makes mistakes. I am working to be like the champion.

Here is a quote by pres. Hinkley i really enjoyed: Attitude has more to do with personality, with attractiveness, with getting along with others than does any other attribute."

This poem describes the difference between the champion and the victim way of forgiving:

When i went to the door, at the whisper of

Knocking, I saw Simeon Gartner's daughter,

Kathleen, standing there, in her shawl and her

Shame, sent to ask "Forgiveness Flour" for her

Bread. "Forgiveness Flour," we call it in our

Corner. If one has erred, one is sent to ask

for flour on his neighbors. If they loan it to

Him, that means he can stay, but if they

Refuse, he had best take himself off. I looked

At Kathleen....what a jewel of a daughter,

Though not much like her father, more's the

Pity. "I'll give you flour," I said, and went to

Measure it. Measuring was the rub. If i gave

Too much, neighbors would think I made sin

Easy, but if I gave too little, they would label

Me "close". While i stood measuring, Joel, my

Husband came in from the mill, a great bag of

Flour on his shoulder, and seeing her there,

Shrinking in the doorway, he tossed the bag at

Her feet. "Here take all of it. " And so she

Had flour enough to for many loaves, while I

Stood measuring.

-anonymous