To desire and strive to be of some service to the world, to aim at doing something to really increase the happiness, welfare and virtue of mankind, this is a choice that is possible for all of us; and certainly, it is a good life goal to sail towards. — Henry Van Dyke
Choices. There is the ‘obvious choice’, the ‘logical choice’, the ‘people’s choice’. There are decisions for ‘opting out’, ‘tossing a coin’, ‘reaching a conclusion’. In fact, there are so many choices that we face throughout our lifetime it can seem daunting at times. But the remarkable thing is one of those decisions that we are served each day is our choice regarding our attitude. Beginning each day with positive thinking and affirmative words and actions can and will enhance goodness in the world.
In politics – our country’s security and stability, our infrastructure and the quality of our services are all affected by the choices made by our leaders. Just think, if the powers that be would begin each day with an affirmative outlook for the betterment of the people they govern, instead of making choices that create dissention and discord, I believe that we could gain greatly in bi-partisan actions and restore an optimistic attitude.
In marriage – choices made in the course of a relationship are not made on a wedding day or from the vows spoken in a church or synagogue, they are made over and over again every day in the way one treats their husband or wife. In order to achieve and sustain optimism in a marriage, one’s choices need to take place from a considerate and hopeful heart.
Mindset is a choice we are given, and probably the greatest choice we have every day we wake. In striving to maintain a fixed mental attitude and a sunny disposition which predetermines our responses and interpretations of situations that we come face-to-face with during our days on earth, we can (and will) achieve a more gracious world; a warmer and kinder world that we will pass to our children.