Message from the Expert.....

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How is Your Day?

Today was a beautiful fall crisp day; the air was so clean and the aroma from the apple trees was spilling out into the air. As I drove to the grocery store, I had this feeling of such peace and happiness. What a beautiful day, I thought to myself. After a long hard week at work, I took a few moments to just appreciate nature and how gorgeous the trees look with the foliage starting to turn golden.

As I entered the grocery store, I was smiling and saying hello to other shoppers, happy that my busy week was over and I could go home and have dinner with my family. I finished my shopping and moved on to the checkout, where the cashier did not greet me and the bagger was complaining about how his mom woke him up at 7:00 am and his legs were killing him.

I looked up at him and said, "The more you focus on it, it will expand."
He gave me a very strange look. At about 15 years old, he seemed to have such a disturbing negative attitude.
I explained, "Think positive, you will feel so much better."
"There is nothing to think positive about, I'm here until 9:00 pm," he said.
My response was, "So just think of your pay check."
"It won't be much, I don't make much money," he answered.

By the time he had finished bagging my groceries, he was smiling and he thanked me. He told me to "have a great day" and I wished him the same.

When I got into my car, I sat there for a moment and reflected on our conversation. His initially negative attitude had bothered me so much, and the situation had proven to me, once again, that just hearing positive words can change someone's mood. Can you imagine how powerful it would be to actually think positive as well?

The way you think, is the way you will feel. If you think doom and gloom, doubt and anticipation, you will feel this way.

The cashier of the grocery store did not greet me as she generally would have, because she was listening to the bagger complain and whine about how tired he was and how his legs hurt. He was bringing her down with his negative talk and attitude. You will undoubtedly feel the same way if that is how you talk to yourself.

The way you think and talk to yourself can either give you a great feeling or a draining feeling; the choice is yours.

There are always different ways to react to a situation; as with everything in life, we always have a choice. While that boy was talking about his anger towards his mom for waking him up and complaining about how he had to work until 9:00pm, he had no idea that I had just worked a 70-hour work week, brought my son to 3 cross country meets, basketball tryouts, 3 soccer games, baseball practice, and my daughter to soccer practice, a soccer game and tennis. It didn't matter that he knew it or not, the fact is, I was still in a positive mood and enjoying life.

When someone asks you, "How is your day?", try to answer, "Excellent, and you?". Always wish other people a great day; those simple words can make all the difference in your day and in others'.

Have a great day, and think positive!