"Do you feel like I do?" — Peter Frampton
by Mimi Stuart, Live the Life you Desire
So what I really meant was…
“Perspective changes everything. I’m going to stop complaining, change my attitude, and see what happens.”
I had no shoes and complained,
until I met a man who had no feet.
~Indian Proverb
by Alison Poulsen, PhD
"Roswitha McIntosh" by Mimi Stuart
Live the Life you Desire
My mother Ros turns 80 years old today, showing everyone around her how kindness, a passion for life and a can-do attitude create a beauty that isn’t found in most 30-year olds.
Her ability to look for the positive and the possible is what keeps her happy, energetic and a joy to be around. People who engaged in life and in the people around them generally age well despite the inevitable changes as we grow older.
When my mother’s new hip kept her on crutches off and on for five years, she would still walk on the beach daily. Even on crutches, she asked what she could do for others, rather than what they could do for her. The moment her hip finally healed, she was back to ballroom dancing and skiing.
A shoulder injury caused her to start playing ping pong with her non-dominant hand. She viewed it as a challenge and she has become quite difficult to beat!
She challenges her mind in many ways, including playing the piano and translating her third book into German — the language of a country she hasn’t lived in for over half a century. She gathers together eclectic friends, new and old at her table for lively discussion and a delicious meal. You may find her on a ladder painting my sister’s fence, or energetically helping her association gardeners with weeding and planting.
With such enthusiasm and industriousness, her life seems, and I believe, is better than ever. Moreover, given her kind and intelligent face, her beauty radiates through her fine lines of wisdom.
Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
~Coach John Wooden
I feel like an 18 year old. I just can’t catch her.
~George Burns
by Alison Poulsen, PhD
"Precision Line" — Mariano Rivera by Mimi Stuart
Live the Life you Desire
Seth Stisher, Pro Slalom Skier & Coach:
Positive attitude is good, but I believe there should be a good degree of realism in your optimism. As many mental coaches advise, setting unattainable goals is a recipe for COMPLETE failure.
On that note, accepting some failure along the way is necessary. How you accept this failure will separate you from the competition. Failure is merely a reminder that hard work and smart work are necessary for real gains.
Alison:
Our physical attitude usually reflects our mental attitude. Our bodies perform best when we are both relaxed and intently focused in the moment. Therefore, a mental attitude that promotes fluidity and power is optimal. Strong negative emotions can cause your muscles to stiffen. So, deal with errors without becoming frustrated.
Look at the attitude young children have when they learn to walk. They observe and practice. When they fall down, they get right back up and keep trying, taking physical or mental note on what worked and what did not work. The best learning occurs without whining or outbursts, but through calm awareness and presence.
by Alison Poulsen, Phd, and
Seth Stisher, Pro Slalom Skier and Coach
Owner of H2OProShop.com
To ski with Seth, checkout SethStisher.com
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Read “Sports Psychology: I’m terrible at this sport. I can never get it right.”