Once upon a time I won a coffee mug from a blog challenge hosted by the writers’ club I’m involved in. It was an amazing experience getting to read and interact with other bloggers while blogging from A-Z, and now it’s time to try it again.
Writers of Kern 2014 “A to Z” Blog Challenge
The 2014 A to Z challenge will begin Wednesday, September 10th and end Saturday, December 6th. Thirteen weeks, 2 posts per week equals 26 posts. Writers may choose any theme; but, each post must feature one letter of the alphabet in alphabetical order.
There are two parts to the challenge:
Part 1 – Publish two blog posts a week, for thirteen weeks. Posting Wednesday and Saturday are suggested, but not required. (I will be posting on Wednesdays and Fridays to complete the challenge.)
Part 2 – Visit at least five other participants’ blogs each week, leaving thoughtful comments and encouraging words.
Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude. -Thomas Jefferson
A man wakes up as the piercing sunlight shines in through what seems like gaping holes in his window’s blinds. He slowly throws the covers off of himself and slides out of bed as if he were an inanimate blob of goo. Somewhere between his bedroom and the office he grabs a cup of coffee and he begins his long tedious day of work. At the end of the day, he heads home in a emotionless trance to eat dinner, watch a little TV, and slide back into his bed to complete the cycle all over again.
Another man wakes up as the brilliant sunlight seeps in through his window’s blinds to greet him. He quickly throws the covers off of himself and hops out of bed as if he were compressed coil of spring suddenly being released. Somewhere between his bedroom and the office he greets the local staff at his favorite coffee house, grabs a cup of coffee, and he begins his day at work. By the end of the day, he heads home to eat dinner, watch one of his favorite television shows, and slide quickly into his bed in order to greet the day the next morning.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. -Winston Churchill
The phrase, getting up on the wrong side of the bed, has more to do with attitude than it does with feng shui and interior design. It’s about starting the day in a certain mindset that carries on throughout the day. The moment that anyone wakes up in a bad mood is the start of the negative rippling effect that fills that person and floods out into the world around them.
Instead, allowing yourself to think more positive thoughts makes your day a little brighter and your mood a little better, and if feng shui encourages you to think more positive thoughts and lift yourself into the right attitude, then by all means, do it.
Living your life with the right attitude changes the way you perceive various situations. The same morning for those two men went differently because they put themselves in two very different mindsets. And because attitude is “a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior,” it becomes an important thing to be mindful of. Attitude does clearly make a difference, so you might as well be in the right one and enjoy life with more happiness and success.
For success, attitude is equally as important as ability. -Walter Scott
Jazzed About Stuff 
Jasmine, great reminder that we can change the outlook of our day by changing our mood. When one person is in a bad mood, it spreads, poisoning everyone around them. That’s why we gravitate toward those people in a good mood – their joy lightens everyone’s day.
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Love this, Jasmine, as I am all about positivity and attitude! I enjoyed your contrasting attitude scenarios. The difference between the two men’s days is a “given.”
A favorite line: “The phrase, getting up on the wrong side of the bed, has more to do with attitude than it does with feng shui and interior design.”
Thanks for your thoughtful post. xoA
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Thank you 🙂
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Good point. This is a good reminder that we have a lot of control over our own happiness. Too bad it isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. But it’s worth the work.
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Yes, it definitely takes a bit of work to get ourselves to that point where we can have control over our own happiness.
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The question of attitude. Always fascinated by it. Can one truly choose attitude? I say yes and no. There are times, looking from the inside out, I see the choice clear as day…good attitude versus bad. I’ve made both right and wrong decisions in that regard. But sometimes you don’t see, can’t see your own mood… or maybe you see…but can’t summon the can-do attitude to correct yourself…the mood is too entrenched. But I will say the effort is worthwhile. ..always reach for the smile.
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I have to agree with you about attitude being something that you might not always be aware of, however, keeping this thought in mind may help one be more mindful of thinking more positively. And, yes, the effort is definitely worthwhile. 🙂
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“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Is one of many quotes I have posted above my desk. Churchill was and still is a profound leader.
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Churchill definitely was and still is a profound leader. Thanks for reading.
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By the time I was in my 20’s I realized I was an early riser and reveled in the ability to wake up quickly. I always tried to get to work an hour ahead of the kids. Most of the time I am an optimist-there are those %$$%(& days-happily so. good post
Terry
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Thanks 🙂
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Jasmine, from one vegetarian blogger to another, I like your attitude. I look forward to reading more. Best wishes and good luck with the blog challenge.
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Thanks! And you too.
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Oh, Jasmine, you are so right! Attitude is the key to a happy life. I am so inspired by those who find joy even in the midst of some of the most terrible conditions. I love YOUR attitude and look forward to reading more of your posts! (P.S. I am also a vegetarian blogger!)
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I’m kind of a pessimist so I tend to look the glass as half empty all day everyday…until I had kids and they never let me be serious like I used to. I can’t help but to smile and have a better attitude because of them. Great post.
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