Attitude. Life. Perspective.

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes. -Charles R. Swindoll

This was the opening of my cousin TJ's speech yesterday at my uncle's (his father) funeral service. This was also the quote that defined how my uncle lived his life and how he raised his children. I don't think I will ever look at a quote the same again.

Dear week, you have been rough. ROUGH. The past two days I've been out of town for my uncle Jerry's funeral services and on top of that somehow I managed to lock myself and Rocky out of our house yesterday morning, so needless to say Halloween hasn't been that great this year. However, there is always a silver lining. I got to spend time with family I haven't seen in a while and celebrate my uncle's life with them. I've learned valuable lessons about life and how important having a positive attitude is this week that I really want to take with me in the years to come.

 

Dear Charlotte (my niece that I got to meet for the first time this week because her and her momma, my cousin, live in Boston), you are the most precious baby girl I have ever laid eyes on. You melted my heart. I just loved getting to hold you and meet you, finally!

 have you seen a more gorgeous 14 month old? I haven't.

Dear Billy, thank you for carving some kick butt pumpkins this year. I like our little thing we got goin' on...I gut the pumpkins and you carve. 

Dear Columbus' very first blow out bar, I will be paying you a visit this weekend. I cannot WAIT to get my first blow out with a girlfriend of mine! Much.needed after this week.

Dear readers, I promise to be more upbeat next week. I've got some good things on the horizon. Did you scoop yourself up one of the vests I posted about the other day? Better get on that because the weather looks perfect for them this weekend! ;)

Dear Uncle Jerry, I have never seen more people at a funeral service. You will truly be missed! For hours yesterday, I listened to your friends and family share the most amazing stories about you, and I feel proud to have called you my uncle. Please watch over my Dad, will you? I know he is missing you already. Thank you for being such a good brother and best friend to him. We love you.

Dear trick-or-treaters, I told you to take handfuls of candy because I didn't want to be stuck with pounds of candy just for myself, but you didn't listen. How about coming back for round 2 tonight? Because let's be serious, candy and myself need to be on a break after the past few nights. A serious break.

....can't stop eating twix. tootsie rolls. twix. tootsie rolls. vicious cycle it is, really.

Dear week, you know how I said up above you have been rough? You've also reminded me how short life really is and how well I want to live mine. Thank you, again, for the firm wake up call.