Attitude is Everything

Attitude by Charles Swindoll

"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, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, 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 every day 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% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our Attitudes."

I read this quote on a forum I read regularly. THIS describes our wounded warriors attitude to a “T”. Our wounded and ill warriors were dealt a blow and they responded to it with this same philosophy. Circumstances can’t be changed and they are going to get on with their “new normal” and move forward.

Attitude IS everything. The positive attitude, the positive determination, the will to reach their “new normal” is remarkable.

Pity is not accepted by these warriors. Thanks—yes. Support—yes. Joy in their accomplishments—yes. Pity—no.

A few years ago, I had major surgery leaving me with a “new normal”. Seeing how the wounded and ill warriors approached their “new normal” gave me the strength and “attitude” to approach the surgery, recovery and life afterwards with a positive, upbeat “attitude”. I am sure, like me, they have times when they are blue and enjoy a “pity party”, but those times are few and far between.

If you ever have the honor and privilege to meet one of our wounded/ill war heroes, please thank them for their service, buy them a cup of coffee or lunch, talk to them about NASCAR, football, baseball, bicycle riding, etc. You will get a glimpse of the “attitude” that got the warrior through.

LDR

THE GRATITUDE CAMPAIGN

We recently returned from a visit to DC where we met with some of our wounded warriors and had a chance to chat with them.

One of the warriors told me how wonderful it felt to be told “thank you” by someone in the airport. He’d been traveling with his wife and they were having lunch while on a layover. A lady quietly walked over to them, excused herself and said to his wife that she wanted to hug him to say “thank you”. This touched the warrior deeply.

Another mentioned how he’d been thanked by a little boy in the airport. He said it brought tears to his eyes. He hadn’t been thanked before.

I was asked by members of the “Soldiers’ Angels Family” at Walter Reed who we refer to as “The Posse”, “The Mafia” or “The Contingent” to help pass this along. These fellows saw this and asked if I’d help spread the word and keep spreading it. Please go, watch and do this when you see a Soldier, Sailor, Airmen, Marine or Coast Guardsmen. They are sacrificing so much to keep us safe.

Thank you.

MEMORIAL DAY 2008

Memorial Day has come and gone. All over the country, Americans said “thank you” through parades, ceremonies, dedications. A truly “thank filled” weekend for our veterans and those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

My small town had one of the largest parades I’ve seen on Memorial Day. Parade planners had invited a group from a veteran’s home in Jersey to ride in the parade. The bus had maybe 10 vets riding the parade route and I think that was more emotional than all the “grand marshals” put together. Yes, I clapped and waved as did those around me. Heroes of earlier wars getting the thanks and respect they deserve.

A simple thank you for your service goes such a long way to these heroes—not just on Memorial Day or Armed Forces Day. Keep it simple. Thank you for your service is a wonderful thing for them to hear. Some have never heard thank you before. Consider this when walking through a crowded place. It says it all.

You know, I read this quote recently and thought how appropriate to add in this post:

A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it. -- Author Unknown

Since working with Soldiers’ Angels, I have had the extreme honor and privilege of meeting so many men and women who DO understand exactly what honor is. Men and women who raised their right hand VOLUNTARILY to protect us here in the United States and be defenders of freedom all over the world. Thank GOD for those men and women.

So, don’t forget—thank a vet. It doesn’t have to be on a holiday. Remember our heroes every day.

Thank you heroes!

LDR