ENTRY #10 Not so Crabby

        After reviewing my previous blogs, something occurred to me that I didn't much care for. Most of them seem to read as angry or at least a little cynical. I hope that I haven't been viewed by younger readers as that "crabby old man".

          Maybe I am in my outlook on current events. I'm not sure if we get like that simply because of age, or because of what we have seen/experienced over the years. Fortunately, I am not as cynical in my personal life. In fact quite the opposite, so I am going to try and post a non-cynical blog. Wish me luck!

          I'm going to try to encourage younger readers how to enjoy their lives, using myself as an example. Like many, if not most people, I have had many obstacles throughout my life. I compare obstacles to hurdles. I simplistically break humans down into two categories: hurdle builders and hurdle jumpers. 

         We've all seen the hurdle builders somewhere along the way. the people that find a million reasons why they can't reach the finish line. These people also don't deal well with any difficulties that might come their way. Of course it's always someone else's fault, therefore they have the "right" to possess negative emotions. I can't even imagine having lived my life like that. It must be like living in hell right here on earth.

         Now lets talk about the hurdle jumpers, which I hope at least some of you are. If not, it's not too late, believe me. Jumpers, as I'm sure you all can guess, are the polar opposites to builders. Jumpers make it to the finish line no matter how high the hurdles are. Jumpers don't blame others for their problems. Jumpers don't feel negative emotions, because jumpers know that they can control their emotions by locating that "silver lining". Jumpers live much happier, more fulfilled lives than builders. Which would you rather be? It's all up to you.                                                                   

         I have had many friends over the years tell me that I should write a book about the trials and tribulations of my life. The problem is, I consider myself a  jumper and always tried at least, to findce the positive side to a negative event. I'm not patting myself on the back. I'm simply trying to encourage the jumper approach to life and maybe even convert a few builders into jumpers.

         We've all heard the saying "life is what you make of it". I prefer to the saying "every day is what you make of it". We are the only ones that have control over how we respond to certain situations. Here's one small example of builder vs jumper attitude towards an unfortunate incident. A builder wakes up to a flat tire one morning. He or she gets all upset about this major inconvenience in their life. They'll probably have a rotten day and complain about it to anyone that will listen. The same scenario happens to a jumper. The jumper's first thought is "Boy am I lucky. I could have had a blow out at 70mph on the highway". Then that person spends the rest of their day feeling fortunate. Who probably has more friends? The only people that want to be friends with builders is other builders so they can share their self imposed misery with each other. Fun,fun,fun (not). 

           If your not a jumper, become one. It's really not that difficult to find an up side to a down situation. It took me a little longer than I'd like to admit, but the payback has been ten fold plus. If nothing else remember this: bad things usually make for great stories later on that we get to laugh about.