Today I am sharing my latest column that will be published next month.  

Inventing Your Life

“Adjust Your Outlook”

By

Rob Claudio

Attitude can make a big difference in how we live life.  I learned from an old friend a long time ago that how you age is up to you.  Just because you are older in years does not mean that your heart cannot stay young and perspective can be everything.  I remember when I was young a close friend of my family battled cancer for several years.  The difference between the husband who had the illness and his wife was completely the opposite.  The wife appeared to have anger and resentment about their situation and focused on the things that were not right.  The husband on the other hand, took all the phases of the illness in stride.  He had talked to us at the beginning of his diagnosis and how he came to terms that he could not do anything about his genetic disposition. His approach was more of a matter of everyday life, versus questioning the universe as to why he had to deal with this situation.  We would go and visit with him in the hospital when his health weakened and he would make us laugh about stories when he was younger, while his wife stepped out of the room.  Instead of us cheering him up, he ended up making us feel better.  Although you could visibly see him looking weaker, his attitude and outlook overshadowed his situation. He became a great example of how one could face such adversity.  Being faced with an illness is sometimes not preventable, however, how you face the world as a result, is your call.   Could your children, close family or friends benefit from you making an outlook change?  That is a question that you will have to answer for yourself.  Making an outlook adjustment can add more value to your own life, as you devote your focus to the things that truly matter most.  The media all around us appears to focus and revolve around what is wrong.  Yet every day I see and hear stories of how someone did something good.  Sometimes it takes work to find this balance, however, after many years of practice it gets easier to attract it into your life.  Remember that you are not defined by your circumstances, instead it is your accomplishments that are your true legacy.              

      “In the hopes of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet”.
-Albert Schweitzer