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Page: Choose Life

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Choose Life - or: 

Attitude is Everything 

 

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Jerry seemed unreal – he was never down or in a bad mood and always had something positive to say. When someone asked him how he was doing, he would reply, “I feel on top of the world!” 

 

His attitude made him a unique manager and a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there encouraging them how to look on the positive side of the situation. Therefore several waiters followed him from restaurant to restaurant.   

 

Observing Jerry’s manner really made me curious. One day I asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all the time. How do you do it?” 

 

Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, ‘Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.” I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.” 

 

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested.  

 

“Yes, it is,” Jerry said. “Life is all about choices. Every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life.” I reflected on what Jerry said and, after leaving the restaurant industry, often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. 

 

Several years later, I heard that Jerry had been held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the restaurant safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found quickly and rushed to hospital. There he had 18 hours of surgery, followed by weeks of intensive care.   

 

I saw Jerry about six months after the incident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “I feel on top of the world! Want to see my scars?” I declined to see his wounds, but asked him what went through his mind as the robbery took place. Jerry replied, “As I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.” 

 

“Weren’t you scared?” I asked.  

 

Jerry continued, “When they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes I read, ‘He’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action.”  

 

“What did you do?” I asked.  

“Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’” 

 

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything. 

 

 

Adapted from: Francie Baltazar-Schwartz, Attitude is Everything (originally from http://www.spiritual-endeavors.org/stories/attitude.htm)

 


 

 



 


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About Us
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Truth
About God
The Experience of God
The God of Grace
Amazing Grace
God's Grace and Mercy - Another View
God's Grace in Small Things
Walking with God
God's Gifts and User Manual
God's Loving Care
The Dynamic God
Our Awesome and Incomprehensible God
God, Creation and Truth
The Common Aim of all Godly Religions
Living Buddha, Living Christ
About the Bible
Bible as the Word of God
Inspiration of the Scriptures
Another Reflection on the Bible
Truth Versus Facts
The Bible at your Fingertips
Letter from a Loving God
Book About Basic Bible Teachings
About the Universe
Nature and the Universe
Life's Origin
Our Unique Planet
Mind of the Universe
The Nature of Creation and Existence
Metaphysical View of the World
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 1
Order, Beauty, and Harmony - Part 2
About Humanity
Nature of Humans
Of Creators and Creations
Truth and Perceptions
Our Present State and Divine Potential
Hidden Treasure Within Us
Precious Balls of Clay
Intertwining of Humanity and Divinity
Conversion
Finding One's Mission in Life
Living with Paradox
Scripture Bell
The Potential Good Within Evil
About Health and Happiness
Key Principles for Health and Happiness
Twelve Laws of Spirit
40 Spiritual Principles
Seven Spiritual Laws of Success
Wisdom from Rumi
Aspects of Spiritual Life
First Things First
Disciplined Living
Compassion
Listening
Experiencing Joy
Each Day is a Gift
Dealing with Suffering
Living in the Present
Other Aspects of Living in the Now
Choose Life
Dealing with Change
Acceptance
Prayer
Prayer -- Another Perspective
Serenity Prayer
The Lord's Prayer
Prayer to Magnify God
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Pax -- the Peace of God's Presence
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Human Relationships
Children About Love
Inspiration from the Lives of a Godly Couple
Desiderata
References
Beauty
Skies and Seas
Glorious Sunrises
Beautiful Skies
Awesome Sunsets
Beauty of the Sea
Seaside Beauty
Trees and Flowers
Trees and Shrubs
Flowers in Bloom
Rose Garden
Beautiful Orchids
Animal Life
Australian Birds
Birds on Water and Land
Beautiful Creatures
Friendship of Kitten and Parrot
Other Animal Friendships
Parks and Gardens
Toowoomba Flower Festival
Riyadh Parks and Gardens
Spring Time
New Life
Spring Flowers
Flower Close-Ups
The Waterside
Water Edge
Water Mirrors
Artistic Expression
Art of Jindrich (Henry) Degen
Three Dogs Knowing
Beautiful Actions
The Cab Ride
Dancing in the Rain
Angel in Disguise?
Angels at Work
The Crocheted Tablecloth
Love in the Midst of Tragedy
Children's Innocence
Special Day
~ References ~
Free Downloads
God and Creation
God is Love
Identity in Christ
Love, Joy and Obedience
Nature of Truth
Thoughts about Life
Learning and Growth
Thoughts on Life and Death
Abandonment to God
Wishing You Well
Your Comments
Contact Us