What Is Your View of the Future?

             Families, communities, and nations are stronger when individuals have positive attitudes. A word with similar meaning as attitude is mindset. Our mindset is the set of attitudes that we establish. If we have a positive attitude, or growth mindset, we are ready to gain more knowledge or learn new skills. If we have a negative attitude, or fixed mindset, we are likely to think that we cannot learn new skills or gain new knowledge. Parents and other adults make a difference in the type of attitudes that children and teenagers develop.

            The year 2020 has been a horrible year in many respects, but there are good things that have come out of it. We faced a novel coronavirus that has affected millions of people and killed several hundred thousand in our nation. Yet, a new vaccine was developed in only nine months compared to the usual timetable of five to ten years – or never.

            The coronavirus caused my husband and I to stay close to home. We could not travel to visit our children and grandchildren, but we watched on Zoom as one grandson performed his first baptism as a missionary and a ten-year-old grandson speak at the funeral of an elderly woman that he befriended at Church. We established a weekly Zoom visit with our children and grandchildren and even got together on Zoom for our annual nativity play.

Because of COVID-19, I have not been in a grocery store since March 2020. It was awkward at first making my grocery list and sending it to my daughter, but both my husband and I look forward to her weekly visits when she brings our groceries.

We can look at 2021 with a negative attitude or a positive attitude, a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. However, we look at the future, we will find it. We can either see the dark clouds in our lives, or we can look for the silver linings in the clouds and the rainbows that come after the rain. A friend reposted the following statement about positive attitude on Facebook, and I wanted to share it with my readers. I do not know the author, but I agree with their words.

Good morning and welcome to Flighty 2021. We are prepared to take off into the New Year. Please make sure your Positive Attitude and Gratitude are secured and locked in the upright position. All self-destruct devices, such as pity, anger, selfishness, and resentment, should be turned off at this time.

“All negativity, hurt, and discouragement should be put away. Should you lose your Positive Attitude under pressure during this flight, reach up and pull down a prayer. Prayers will automatically be activated by Faith. Once your Faith is activated, you can assist other passengers who are of little faith. There will BE NO BAGGAGE allowed on this flight. God, our Captain, has cleared us for take-off. Destination – GREATNESS! Wishing you a New Year f8lled with new HOPE, new JOY, and new BEGINNINGS! Stay Blessed! And Welcome in 2021!!!!

            I know that life can be difficult even in the best of circumstances. Nevertheless, we should not make it worse by facing it with a negative attitude. I know that families, communities, and nations are stronger when individuals look to the future with a positive attitude and a growth mindset.