Attitude

"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 failure, 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 is no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, or no challenge too great. We have the right to choose our own attitude, bitterness or forgiveness, give-up or go on, hatred or hope, determination to endure or the paralysis of self pity. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it." ~Author Unknown

I have had this quote (thanks to my mom) on our refrigerator for the past year. It is Sus' favorite, she has "preached" this one to me and my brothers for years. I do think it says it all...our choice of ATTITUDE is a very powerful decision we make each and every day, even on a minute to minute basis. There are times when I allow fear of "what could happen" with Maddie get the best of me. I tend to borrow trouble and look too far ahead on what is to come, what obstacles she'll face, and what she won't be able to do. As her mother, I often worry about "messing" her up since I'll always have her HEART looming over every decision I make in raising her. It's something you just don't forget about. I tend to take it into account with every little thing. I'm learning that this only ruins right now and the precious time we have together. So this quote is a great reminder for me when I need to quickly redirect my thoughts, emotions, and change my attitude. We only have right now. We all have trials here on earth and there is always someone with a bigger trial than you. These facts always put things back into perspective for me. I am so grateful for the heart parents before me, their wonderful advice, tips and outlooks on raising a child with a CHD. I so enjoy reading the blogs of those who've "paved the way" for my daughter, they are really the pioneers in the heart world.

Paul Cardall's blog is one that I love and offers so much hope to families dealing with CHD's. He's just an amazing person. It's linked to ours under Kindred Hearts, and I strongly suggest that if you have some time, please take a look at his journey and this article, click here to read it. He's waiting for a new heart, has lived with HRHS for 36 years, and reading his parents and his wife's point of view in the article was truly emotional and inspiring for me. Paul and his family are wonderful examples of how powerful our attitudes really are when we have the determination to endure, even when we find ourselves in the valley.