ATTITUDE: What Side of the Wall are YOU On?

One long wait. Two Mai Tais. The Three Stooges.

These were the numbers which formed the equation of our night as Tina and I closed out 2017...at a Chinese restaurant...waiting for our take out order.

New Years Eve...what were we thinking?

It's a night that progressed differently for all who were present...and it all came down to each person's choice of ATTITUDE.

According to to an on-line dictionary, attitude is described as 'the way you think and feel about something and how it affects your behavior'.

On New Years Eve, there were two separate ends of the spectrum represented, as you will see in the video above.

It happens every day. No matter what situation is presented to our eyes and ears, some people will 'find the good' and some will 'find the bad'.

It doesn't make either group right or wrong, in my opinion.

For me, choosing to have a positive attitude is less about unicorns and pixie dust that it is about guiding me through the world figuring what I can and cannot control, and choosing a path of action (and reaction) that will not take me off my mission of creating a positive result...or at least the least negative one.

Do I have bad days? Yup.

Do I get made at people and situations? Of course I do.

Do I make choices of how to react so that I can at least salvage something positive from the experience?

Whenever possible (which means when my brain overrides my emotions)...YES.

In the New Years Eve scenario, simply put:

When told there was a wait for food to be ready, some people stayed near the entrance/lobby, and some followed the suggestion of the staff and went to a separate room at the back of a restaurant (behind a glass wall) to wait.

Having been part of both groups for a period of time, I made the following observation:

Those who ignored the invitation and stayed near the door tended to complain more, announcing to those who entered by complaining about how long they already been waiting.

Those who joined us in the back were greeted with smiles (from me and my new friends, who were all making jokes), laughter, free drinks and a better outlook on the situation.

One couple near us were RAVING about the Mai Tais which they received, complimentary, for waiting. I think they may have said something about getting a pitcher of them and just staying there for New Years.

One woman who came in asked if it was okay to put The Three Stooges on the TV.

'Coitanly!

After 2 hours, we got our food, said good-bye (with a smile) to those who were still waiting, and waded through the crowd near the front door...some of whom were complaining.

Please remember the situation: WE WERE ALL WAITING FOR OUR FOOD!

We ALL made a choice as to how we were going to react.

We ALL chose our own attitude about the situation.

Something may go wrong, or at least get side-tracked in your world this week.

Here's my question: When life happens...what side of the wall will be you be on?

Now in his 14th year as The Motivational Firewood™Guy, Steve Gamlin shares his back-to-basics blend of motivation and humor with corporate and conference audiences around the country.

Drawing from a decade in the radio industry, 7 years of stand-up comedy and his lifelong personal development journey, Steve shares 'real' messages for 'real' people, and recently launched his “Engaging Your Why / Success Vision” learning program.