It Depends On How You Look At It!

Gratitude-GasStationA man pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of town. As he filled his tank, he remarked to the attendant, “I’ve just accepted a job in town. I’ve never been to this part of the country. What are people like here?”

“What are people like where you come from?” the attendant asked.

“Not so nice,” the man replied. “In fact, they can be quite rude.”

The attendant shook his head. “Well, I’m afraid you’ll find the people in this town to be the same way.”

“Just then another car pulled into the station. “Excuse me,” the driver called out. “I’m just moving to this area. Is it nice here?”

“Was it nice where you came from?” the attendant inquired.

“Oh yes! I came from a great place. The people were friendly, and I hated to leave.”

“Well, you’ll find the same to be true of this town.” “Thanks!” yelled the driver as he pulled away.

“So what is this town really like?” asked the first man, no irritated with the attendant’s conflicting reports.

The attendant just shrugged his shoulders. “It’s all a matter of perception. You’ll find things to be just the way you think they are.”

Adapted from the Positive Christianity Web Site.

Be Well.
Paul.
The Gratitude Guru

10 Comments

  1. james samy on March 30, 2011 at 2:28 am

    Paul, you share a simple and deep meaning story which nail to right topic …perception. Thank you sharing what you know here.

  2. AJ on March 30, 2011 at 5:45 am

    Very true!
    -AJ

  3. debbie katz on March 30, 2011 at 6:15 am

    Paul, This is so true. I never meet strangers, and always expect people to be nice and friendly. I’m surprised when they’re not, and just figure they’re having a bad day. A positive attitude makes all the difference.

  4. Cathy Deere on March 30, 2011 at 7:48 am

    Hello Paul, this is a great story and so true. Our attitude is how our day will be. I try to have a positive attitude each day and it sure makes a difference. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Michele on March 30, 2011 at 9:17 am

    A lesson to carry with me. Isn’t it crazy how really simple life is and how complicated we all make it?

  6. Laurence Hansen on March 30, 2011 at 10:43 am

    This is a simple truth most people don’t recognize. When you finally get it, it’s a big “Oh, of course” kind of moment.

  7. Elvie on March 31, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    I heard this from a speaker at our congregation. It is so true! He told us to blossom where you are planted… things are the way you make them. Thank you for sharing.

  8. DOnovan Grant on April 1, 2011 at 1:32 am

    That’s a small and nice reminder that the way we look at things can make all the difference. The key thing is that we have the choice to decide. Perception is powerful. Thanks Paul.

  9. Carol Giambri on April 2, 2011 at 3:01 am

    Attitude is so important and yet how we see things through our eyes can be totally different to another. I live in a county setting and as a city girl growing up in an apartment, decades later, still hard adjusting. Others would say fabulous and I would say more “traffic please.” Great sharing Paul.

  10. Solvita on April 2, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    I so agree with what you say, and I’m sharing the view of perspective in the post http://www.positivecalm.com/positive-perspective/, it is incredible how we can build and create our own perspective and be flexible in our thinking if we put our minds to it! Thank you Paul!!! 🙂

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