Aboko usually purchased his weekend newspapers from Agya Nsiah, whose stand was about 200 metres away from his house. It was Aboko\u2019s habit to walk leisurely every Saturday morning to the stand, getting there earlier than even the earliest of customers for the day.<\/p>\n
This way, Aboko could have his usual uninterrupted chat with Agya Nsiah before the customers came trooping in. Agya Nsiah was a fount of wisdom, and he always had a story to illustrate an important lesson for Aboko.<\/p>\n
To Aboko, Agya Nsiah was not just a newsvendor, but a sage and Aboko bought more than newspapers from him \u2013 he also bought wisdom; just that the latter was pro bono service from Agya.<\/p>\n
Uncle Thomas was the greatest sore-head Aboko had even seen in his life; Mr Thomas was always angry and unpleasant to deal with, and this was the same no matter the weather, season or time of day.<\/p>\n
Saturday mornings seemed to be the worst. Aboko could never forget greeting Uncle Thomas with \u2018Good morning\u2019 one day. The man nearly spat in Aboko\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
He blurted out right in the face of the young boy, \u2018What is good about the morning, eh? What is good about this morning? It is a bloody morning, an awful morning!!\u2019 Aboko learnt to keep at least a kilometre away from him from that moment onwards!!<\/p>\n
Except at Agya Nsiah\u2019s stand, where Uncle Thomas was a regular customer. Mr. Thomas was at the stand every Saturday \u2212 complete with his negative attitude, which he wore next to his skin. Surprisingly, Agya Nsiah treated Uncle Thomas\u2019s with the same demeanour he treated every customer, if not better. Agya Nsiah was ever courteous, replying each of Uncle Thomas\u2019 stinging words with a kind one, and with a smile as well.<\/p>\n
Only the obvious dissimilarities between black and white could describe the opposite extremities of expressions of Agya Nsiah and Uncle Thomas \u2013 a smile verses a stone wall, painted black. Aboko never ceased to be amazed. One day, he asked Agya Nsiah how he managed to keep his composure with Uncle Thomas.<\/p>\n
\u2018My son,\u2019 Agya started, \u2018you are responsible for how you feel and how you will behave. You should not be like a chameleon whose colour will become red-hot because the fire in the other person is burning. You decide how you behave \u2013 absolutely \u2013 not anyone else.\u2019<\/p>\n
Many of us are reactive, not proactive. We react. We hit back. We are \u2018an eye for an eye\u2019 practitioners. We attack when we are attacked, with good measure. Our barometer reads from the environment and makes us act accordingly. We are mirrors who reflect the anger in others, the bad attitude in the other person, the negative comments of others. Let me show you a higher level of living.<\/p>\n
Be controlled from the inside of you. Be controlled by your standards. Be motivated by your decisions. Have high standards of behaviour that ride over the negative noise of others.<\/p>\n
Laugh with those who laugh, mourn with those who mourn, but don\u2019t mourn when you don\u2019t want to, and laugh at those who laugh at you if you want to. Determine not to be a photo-sensor that brightens the lights only when people are nice to you.<\/p>\n
Why? Because there are lots of negative and irritable people in our world. Sometimes you wonder whether they are sorted out and specially packaged for your pleasure! You must learn to ride above the noise.<\/p>\n
People will doubt you, but do you doubt your own self? People will insult your integrity, but do you trust yourself? If you are at peace with yourself and with God, you can be at peace with the world.<\/p>\n
So, how do you feel today? And are your feelings under your control? Is how you feel today your own doing?<\/p>\n
Action Exercises:<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. Decide to maintain a positive attitude, in spite of the environment. Quotes<\/strong><\/p>\n We do not what we ought, Matthew Arnold<\/p>\n Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results. –\u00a0Anonymous<\/p>\n Attitude might not catch fish, but it helps when you don’t. –\u00a0Anonymous<\/p>\n By: Nana Awere Damoah Aboko usually purchased his weekend newspapers from Agya Nsiah, whose stand was about 200 metres away from his house. It was Aboko\u2019s habit to walk leisurely every Saturday morning to the stand, getting there earlier than even the earliest of customers for the day. This way, Aboko could have his usual uninterrupted chat with Agya […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":26417,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[8],"yoast_head":"\n
\n2. Review yourself each day, to ensure you are controlling yourself from the inside. Ask yourself: Today, was I a slave to someone else\u2019s attitude?<\/p>\n
\nWhat we ought not, we do;
\nAnd lean upon the thought
\nThat chance will bring us through;
\nBut our own acts, for good or ill,
\nAre mightier powers.<\/p>\n
\nAuthor\/Facilitator<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"