Look at how you see life...your attitude is your lens

I don't usually like to forward along advice I get through chain mail letters, but this one really gets to me, especially with the elections today, and the whole idea of staying positive in the midst of uncertainty.  My thanks go out to my dear friend, Gabrielle Saveri, for forwarding this on.  I regret that I don't know the original author, so I send my heartfelt appreciation to that person for sharing this. 

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

'I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy..

'Mr.. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn' t have anything to do with it,' he replied.

'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 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 work, 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'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away. Just for this time in my life

Old age is like a bank account.. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!Thank you for your part in filling my Memory bank.

I am still depositing.' Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Honestly, I don't particularly care if this story is true or not.  It's about the philosophy.  What a radical idea to arrange your mind to see the positive.   And gosh, for me, it just feels good.  For more on staying positive, check out the Positive Psychology Center at University of Pennsylvania.

Wishing you a positive life,
Susan

Dr. Susan Bernstein
Coach, Speaker & Author
www.WorkFromWithin.com
Work From Within, LLC

Comments

[Rita]

A wonderful story with a touch of reality. Thank you for sharing

[Dr. Susan Bernstein]

I love sharing stories like this, Rita, and am happy that you enjoyed it! : ) Thanks for taking the time to let me know.