Attitude To The Rescue

Off and on for years, I have helped young folks, most of them teenagers, with drugs, booze, boyfriend problems, girlfriend problems, some homework, and any other areas I could.  I say “off and on” because every so often, it gets to be a little too much for my emotions, and I have to get away from it for awhile. Like everything else in life, it has it's advantages and dis-advantages, but most of the time  it makes me feel like I am doing some good in this old world, and maybe giving back something to it. Plus, every now  and then, one of them will go and say something that almost makes my defibulator go off.

About four or five months ago, a young lady of 16 years old came almost running into the restaurant I was in, and blurted out that she was in trouble.  Naturally, the first thought I had was that she was pregnant, and my entire being just about slunk all the way down into the seat. 

After reviving myself  with a few deep breaths, I asked her to sit down across from me, and relate to me what happened.  “I've been grounded for three months...what am I going to do?”  was her reply.

Returning from the restroom, where I had washed my face with cold water, I of course asked “why?”   She had told her parents a lie to cover for her brother!  The first thing I did was obtain her word of honor that she would never do that again...she is very aware that she has some wonderful parents! 

Next, I ask her if she knew why her parents grounded her?  Again came the correct reply---”Because they love me.”  Then I told her that since she said she wouldn't lie to her parents again, and she understands why they grounded her, I would tell her how to possibly get out of being grounded.

“What are you going to do when you get home? I asked!  “I'm going up to my room and go to bed.”

“Yep, thats what I thought.  You are going to go inside with a frown on your face, say nothing to your parents, go to your room, and pout.”

“What else can I do?”

“Remember us having a long conversation about maintaining a good attitude?  Well, this is where the right attitude could possibly pay off.  As soon as you arrive home, go inside and walk right up to your parents, tell them that you realize that you were wrong lying for your brother, and that you will not do it again.  Also, tell them that you realize that the reason they grounded you was because they love you, and that you love them too.  Then walk normally to your room, and don't look back, because their mouths will be on the floor...for you will have done just the opposite of what they thought you would do.”

It was approximately three weeks when she once again walked into the same restaurant, sat down across from me, and related that she did exactly what I told her to do.  As a result, she also stated that she and her parents had a really wonderful long talk with each other, she had a deeper love for her parents, and that she was only grounded for one week. 

She then got up, gave me a big hug, and said she had to go.

When what we consider “bad” things happen to us, the above is how we might turn an otherwise “bad” situation into a much less serious one.

Maintaining a good attitude during good times makes those times seem to last longer, we enjoy them more, and usually create great memories for us to place in the pages of our minds. 

Forcing ourselves to maintain a good attitude during the “bad” times usually causes those times to seem to not last very long, and not be as serious as we originally thought.

Plus, holding a good attitude through all times will be a tremendous help in keeping out stress levels way down.