Sunny disposition helps brighten any gray day

Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves.

-- Helen Keller

I enjoy greeting people on my morning walks. I typically greet everybody I pass, either by smiling, waving or saying, “Good morning.”

People generally respond in some fashion, and those responses seem like mini-snapshots of their attitudes. Most responses are positive, such as a smile or a cheerful “hello,” but occasionally I hear something quite different.

One gray morning I walked by some men who were pouring concrete. One of them smiled and said, “Top of the morning to you. Isn’t it a great day to be alive?”

“Good morning to you, too,” I answered. “Yes, it is a great day to be alive, and I must say that I’m impressed that your attitude is so cheery, even though you’re working out here where it’s chilly and damp.”

“Well, that may be, but I feel sunny inside. I’m just thankful for another day,” he said.

I told him that I was thankful, and I wished him well. I headed up a hill, and I could see a man up ahead who walked with a pronounced limp. The closer I came to him, the more I realized how much he limped, and it looked like each step was quite an effort. When I passed him, I said, “Good morning.” Without hesitation, he replied: “Well, good morning to you young lady, enjoy your walk.” I thanked him and told him to do the same.

I didn’t pass anyone else until I was almost home. I stopped at a red light at the same time a young man did. He was running, and he looked terribly annoyed that he had to stop. I looked over at him just as he looked at me, so I smiled and said, “Good morning. Well, it looks like we won’t get too hot out here today.”

He grunted and said, “All I know is that this gloomy weather is making me feel gloomy inside, and missing this light didn’t help.” Right then the light changed and he took off. I know that red lights often happen at the wrong time, and maybe the man was in a hurry, but his attitude was in such sharp contrast to the others, that I felt like saying, “Do you realize how fortunate you are to be able to walk or run at all?”

Not long afterward, I found the quote at the top of this column, and I wished I could send it to the young man with the negative attitude. The sentiment is good on its own, but it means so much more due to the fact that it came from Helen Keller, a woman who could neither hear nor see.

I pray that God would help me to never take anything for granted, that I would be filled with thanksgiving every day and that I would be able to positively affect others.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive, Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.

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