As I was sitting at my computer tonight to write my monthly article, the concept of attitudes was on my mind.  I didn’t want to write an article, and I was not in the mood to share my thoughts.  Danise and I just returned from a short supper ride on the bike, and both of us were in foul moods because it was cloudy and a balmy 59 degrees on August 30, 2009, at 6:30 p.m.  It was supposed to be sunny and in the mid 70’s but noooooo, it was chilly and ugly.

We should have been satisfied that we got to ride the bike.  With Danise not in the best physical health, we were lucky to be on the bike at all.  The dark clouds all around produced rain, but it didn’t rain on us; and by the time we got to where it did rain, the roads had dried.  We should have been happy that we didn’t get wet and the bike didn’t get dirty.  We had a good meal with good friends and should have been thinking about how blessed we are to have friends.  But instead we concentrated on the dark clouds above us and cold temperatures surrounding us.

The point I am trying to make is that we tend to look at the problems and miss the opportunities.  We concentrate on what we don’t like instead of enjoying what we are given.  We make ourselves miserable when we could have just as easily made ourselves happy.

What does this have to do with GWRRA?  I submit to you everything.  We just returned from the District Rally where I saw hundreds of people having a great time.  They were involved and participating, which brought joy to their hearts.  They made a choice to enjoy the rally.  I saw some folks with frowns and heard them grumbling about nothing to do.  They chose not to participate and then found fault because they had nothing to do.  I heard some folks talk about how great the vendors were, and I heard others talking about how there was nothing there.  I heard people talk about how nice the facilities were and others complaining that there was too much walking.

Attitude was the difference.  There were many who came looking for a good time.  Others came looking for problems and something to complain about.  Both groups found what they wanted because both had a self-fulfilling prophecy.  If you want to have fun, you will find it wherever you go.  If you are looking for problems, they will manifest themselves just as easily.