It is a sunny Monday morning and I am downstairs in my apartment garage, walking over to my motorcycle, preparing to ride to work.

I'm feeling a bit off (it is Monday morning), a little bummed about having to go to work on such a beautiful day and thinking about how my flat feet are going to be aching me by the day's end.

Just then I see a neighbor shuffling along side of his car with his walker.

I have seen and spoken with him before, on the elevator and such.

He is a black man in his mid-eighties, a veteran of the Korean war, has missing teeth, barely able to walk even with his walker and undergoing treatment for cancer.

In spite of all of the apparent difficultly he has had, and is now going through, he always has an high-spirited demeanor and a smile.

I ask - “how ya doing my friend?!”

“Grateful to be alive!” he responds.

“I've just come from the gym” he adds.

“And if you ever hear me complain, hit me over the head with this thing,” as he points to his walker.

“It just makes me sad to see all those young kids with cancer” as he chokes up and gets teary eyed.

“And the pain in their parent's eyes.”

“So if you ever hear me complaining, hit me over the head with this thing!”

I felt at a loss for a response and all I could do was agree with him and wish him well.

Wow!

And the noise in my head was just complaining about petty things!

He certainly put my day into a better perspective!

Something which I again felt compelled to share with others.

FOCUS ON BEING GRATEFUL, LOOKING FOR THE GOOD IN THINGS AND PEOPLE verses focusing on lack, criticism or condemnation!

Change to a better state of mind/consciousness, we all have the power to do so.

Negativity will never benefit you or get you to a better feeling place.

Sending Peace and Blessings,

John :-)