Having a positive attitude.

Does anyone else struggle with keeping a positive attitude?  No matter how good things are, I can always see how they can be better.  I enjoy working with people and having fun but I have a lot of trouble being satisfied with where things are.  I fail at seeing the positives in life. 

Last week I attended a conference for ARC (Association of Related Churches) and Pastor Stovall Weems dealt with this subject.  He pointed out that in Genesis 1, God ended each day by looking at what he had done.   He always states that “it’s good”.  The message hit home on many fronts. I began realizing that I don’t look at life and see what is good.    I determined that every Monday I will journal nothing but the positive in my life.  No “but’s” or “what if’s” are allowed. 

Last week was my first attempt and I have to admit, it was much harder than I thought.  I kept thinking of how the good things could be better.  When all was said and done, I ended up with three.  Three?  Of all of the blessings in my life I could only think of three positives?  I kept thinking of a better version of the good stuff in life.  This week though is going better.  The week hasn’t been great, but I am now looking for the positives that are occurring all around me. 

Try it this week and I would love to know how it goes!

Spring Football and prepping for the next season...of life

Virginia Tech football has always been known for it’s tough, blue-collar mentality.  If we weren’t the most talents or most athletic team on the field, we would outhustle and outwork you for the win.  We would deliver a whoopin’ in every game.   Last year my Virginia Tech Hokies went soft!  Our offensive and defensive lines were manhandled.  Our receivers didn’t block and just seemed to go through the motions.  When players were asked what the problem was, almost to a person, they said it was a lack of leadership. 

Coach Beamer saw where things were trending.  He changed almost the entire offensive staff and brought in a group of coaches who had “been there” and new what needed to be done to right the ship. 

Spring practice has begun andI love seeing what the coaches are doing to change the environment. 

*more intense 6:00AM practices that are pushing the players and separating those who want to be great compared to those who are just going through the motions.

* Coach Loeffler is being more verbal and demanding of an offense, that underachieved and a quarterback who had some seriously bad habits that were detrimental to his game and the team.  Everything is going back to the basics.

*Bull in the ring!  Those words bring fear to every person who ever played football who didn’t want to hit (Dion Sanders?).  Coach Grimes is requiring toughness from an offensive line that was anything but tough last year.  Check out the video!

These coaches understand that you can’t wait until game time to change a team’s culture and habits.  It must be a day-by-day event that begins right now.  It’s true what they say, “you will play like you practice”.

What areas in life do we need to change now to see long term change in becoming who we want to be?

Who are the people we need to surround ourselves with (our coaches) who will help us get headed in the right direction?

May we all have the heart to want to be all that we can possibly be.