Day Four: Creating Home (Attitude & Perspective)

There is an old Chinese Proverb
(or some kind of Proverb)
that tells of a young family traveling between towns.
On the outskirts of one of the upcoming towns,
the family meets an old and wise gentleman.
They exchange a few pleasantries and than ask
"We are looking for a new place to call HOME,
a place where we can find adventure, success and good friends.
What can you tell us of this town right here. Will
it be a good place for us to settle in for awhile?"
The old man, thinks for a moment and asks,
"What was the town like from which you just came?"
The family replies with some frustration and emotion,
"Oh, it was horrible! Everyone there argued, and cheated,
and was always in each others business. We really hated it
there and we are happy to say good riddance."
With determination, the old man said,
"Yes, that is exactly what this town is like too. You should
pass by this old town and move on to brighter pastures."
So the young family said their
Goodbye's and
Nice to Meet You's
and went along on their way.

Some time passed and another young family came
traveling upon the same road and they too, met the
kindly, older gentleman.
Pleasantries were exchanged and finally the father of
the young family asked,
"We are looking for a new place to call HOME,
a place where we can find adventure, success and good friends.
What can you tell us of this town right here. Will
it be a good place for us to settle in for awhile?"
The old man, thinks for a moment and asks,
"What was the town like from which you just came?"
"Oh, it was WONDERFUL! Everyone there was
KIND, HONEST and wanted to SERVE each other
unconditionally. We really loved it there, but alas,
it is time to move on"
With determination, the old man said,
"Yes, this is exactly what this town is like.
You will love it here and should definitely make
this home for a time."
So the young family expressed their gratitude,
and proceeded through the gates of town,
to find a pleasant and wonderful new adventure.

I love this fable/parable/proverb!!
Really what we get out of our home life,
is a lot of the time the ATTITUDE that we put
into it. It really is all about our PERSPECTIVE!

I find myself cringing when I hear younger mothers
speak with trepidation the day when their sweet,
young children become horrible, rotten, disrespectful
TEENAGERS.
I cringe, because I don't know any of this kind of
teenager. They may be out there,
but I haven't seen them.
I love my teenagers,

I love the way they laugh and tease.

I love the way they interact with their friends.

I love the way they help selflessly with ANY thing
I ask them to do.

And I love the look on their faces,
when they notice that you have SEEN their
successes.

I wonder how much this has to do with
Perspective and Attitude?

I think it is a challenge to look at what you are
sitting in RIGHT now,
and enjoy everything about it-
whether it is a car full of car seats,
or a room full of energetic teenagers,
or a home that is more quiet than you'd like-
Not that you don't look forward to something different
in the near future,
but that what you have right now
is just right for now!

"Whether you think you can
or you think you can't
YOU ARE RIGHT!"