Many times in the past few years I have been asked, "If
you could only teach one idea to every kid you taught in your 29
years as a teacher, what would that idea be?"
My answer has always been the same! If I could only teach one
idea to every kid I ever taught it would be that "Happiness
is an attitude of choice!"
If I were successful in teaching every kid that I ever taught, that
they could always choose to be happy it would matter little if my
other lessons were successful because if they learned that one idea;
at least they would always be happy! No matter where they went and
no matter what happened to them they could always choose to be happy.
The concept has been presented many times and in many ways down
through time but it still remains as one of the most empowering
thoughts that a parents can bestow on their children!
"You cannot change what happens to you but you do get to choose
your response!"
"Happiness comes
from the inside out!"
"No one can
make me feel inferior without my consent!"
"If I can find
nothing for which to give thanks, rest assured that the problem
lies within myself!"
"In a free society,
your entertainment is your responsibility! Being bored is the ultimate
insult to self!"
Say it however you wish, but this is the one simple concept will
be among the greatest of gifts you can give to your kids. Think
about it for a second. If you successfully teach your kids to choose
to be happy you will have insured that they will be happy. What
more can you want for your kids?
Remember always that your kids learn more from your backside than
they do from your frontside! They will learn more from what you
do than what you say. To teach your children that happiness is indeed
a choice you must model this for them. This does not mean that your
kids should never see you crying at the loss of a dear loved one,
but in your sorrow they definitely should see you moving forward
and using your loss to find some uplifting gift that you have received
from your loss. They had better see that as part of your grieving
you focus on the happy times with that lost loved one.
The day that my father died he was sitting on the edge of his
bed where I had just helped him in the arduous task of rising to
that seated position. He was wracked with pain from the cancer that
had taken over his body and he could barely muster the strength
to speak but he turned to me and said, "Well, kid, that is
the last sunrise I will ever see! I?ve ridden this old pony for
all she is worth; this will be my last time to look on a sunrise!"
 I
was so startled by this comment that I could not hold back my tears!
Then he changed my outlook on life forever with his next statement.
He looked out his window at the sunrise across the bay and in his
weakened voice he said, "But, if I have to go isn't this a
good one to go out on?" In his dying moments my father was
choosing to see the happiness! We need to be that example for our
kids. When life deals you a bad hand play it the best you can and
enjoy the game!
When a beloved family pet dies? mourn with your kids; and then
get out pictures of "Old Snuffy" and recall happy times
and happy memories. Help your kids to value the entire memory of
that pet and not just the sad memory of his passing. Help them to
recall messages they had learned by knowing that dog. The loyalty
of that wagging tail, no matter what happened. In their grief help
them to recall the good times. Help them to choose to be happy.
Help them to see that being happy does not have to mean that you
like what has happened; but that it does mean you get to choose
how you will respond to the tragedy.
Happiness is truly an attitude of choice. Teach that to your kids
at every stage of their development. Teach kids to laugh by laughing
with them! Every day. In the process you get to choose to see the
joy in having kids!
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Happiness
is an Attitude of Choice
