| In last month’s Membership Enhancement Division Newsletter, we reported that the Region Couples of the Year would be staying at the Crown Plaza while attending Wing Ding 31 in Tulsa. Due to circumstances beyond our or GWRRA’s control, it has been necessary to find other housing accommodations for the Region Couples, the current International Couple of the Year, and the Couple of the Year Coordinators. In making changes in the accommodations, it became necessary to place the Region Couples at different locations. To make matters worse, the Region A Couple of the Year, Bob and Cathy Singley, was the only Couple assigned to a location away from the other Couples. How could this be I thought? I was ready to “JUMP UP AND DOWN”, “COMPLAIN”, “GRIPE”, and “THROW IN THE TOWEL”. I just knew Bob and Cathy would be upset and disappointed. Linda told me (she knows best) we needed to call the Singley’s and talk with them about the situation.
After researching what had happened and why it was necessary to change the accommodations, we telephoned Bob and Cathy. After expressing their first thoughts of disappointment, Cathy made a statement that changed my whole outlook on the situation. She said they started looking for “A SILVER LINING” in this situation. She went on to point out all of the positive aspects of being assigned to the other location. She spent more time explaining the positive things rather than dwelling on the negative. I thought to myself, what a great attitude, outlook, and example that we all should follow. It was very obvious that they were not going to let a small problem stand in the way of their fun, excitement and joy of representing Region A as their Couple of the Year.
What do you do when things don’t go your way? Probably like me you jump up and down, complain, gripe, or throw in the towel. Why can’t we all follow Bob and Cathy’s example and look for “A SILVER LINING” in all problems and difficult situations? Why do we give up the fun and excitement we experienced when we first joined GWRRA and a local Chapter because things don’t go our way? There is “A SILVER LINING” in all situations, we just have to stop and look for it, and remember we are in GWRRA for the Friends, Fun, Safety, and Knowledge.
Ed & Linda Johnson, MED Directors |
