This summer morning finds me sitting on the ground next to a pool of lily pads.  The cool water glistens and shimmers like a magical mirror revealing an enchanting world of freedom and peace.  I close my eyes and feel the clean sunshine raining down upon me.  The vibrations of silent wings mingle with the rhythms of the wind to fill my little paradise with a melody as tranquil as it is beautiful.

        The wings of a dragonfly have always amazed me.  At first glance they appear too flimsy and fragile to endure any movement at all.  But appearances are deceiving; they may be transparent and delicate but they are also powerfully tough and durable.  These wings possess a perfect combination of strength and beauty.  And as I watch the dragonflies sail upon the ocean of oxygen and dock upon their islands of flowers all I can do is enjoy their presence.

        As I ponder my tiny new friends I begin to wish I too had wings.  Sometimes I long for something that will lift me above my difficulties.  I dream of having a pair of wings that could carry me away from all my troubles and transport me to a place that has no problems.  Then it hits me; I already possess magical wings that can transform problems into opportunities and turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.  And the good news is you have some magic wings too.

       Our wings are our attitudes.  They may look flimsy and fragile, but with the right attitude we can soar above any obstacle and triumph over adversity.  Check out your wings today.  What are they made of?  What kind of an attitude have you been carrying around?  Is it time for an attitude adjustment?  If so, I’ve got more good news; you can change your attitude any time you choose to.  Remember, happiness is a choice; choose to find your wings and fly.

Something to think about:

• If your daily life seems poor; do not blame it; blame yourself, tell yourself that you are not poet enough to call forth its riches.

• It’s not what happens to me that matters most; it’s how I react to what happens to me.

• With the right attitude, all the problems in the world will not make you a failure. With the wrong mental attitude, all the help in the world will not make you a success.

• Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens. Circumstances and situations do color life, but you have been given the mind to choose what the color shall be.

• This may shock you, but I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude. It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position. Attitude is that `single string’ that keeps me going or cripples my progress. It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope. When my attitudes are right, there’s no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.

Thankful for my wings
Rickey Moore