"Ability is what you are capable of doing.  Motivation determines what you will do.  Attitude determines how well you do it."  - Lou Holtz.

I have used this quote in my teaching for years.  When approaching writing with college students they often think ability is the problem.  Their teachers and parents often think it is about motivation.  The truth most often lies in the attitude.  If they just can find a positive attitude, success follows.

I have always been a storyteller.  It comes down through the blood as both of my parents could always tell an entertaining tale.  Since I always look for the story side of life, I tend to have a different attitude toward potential disasters.  I look for the funny.  Just last night, my husband managed to catch the stove on fire while making popcorn.  While another woman might scream and moan over the disaster in the kitchen, I just sat and laughed already thinking of telling the story to my friends and in a layout. 

"If you can't change a thing, change the way you think about it.  Don't complain."  - Maya Angelou.

This is a second quote that I use in my classes.  Again, it deals with the attitude each of us use in battling life.  Of course, there are things that we would love to not have to deal with every day.  Lots and lots of things.  Accepting that we cannot change them is the first step to changing our attitude.  And, for me, scrapping them is often the second step.  It allows me to really look for the silver lining inside of every cloud.

If I ever start to forget about choosing my attitude towards life instead of letting it choose me, I look to my kids.  A child does not yet know that life is hard; they see the beauty in every slice of it.  I see a chore and they see a game.  I see a flooded yard and they see mud pies.  I see a weed and they see a wish. 

I wish you a day full of weeds,

Wish on a Weed by Dora Phillips

Supplies: Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Chipboard: BasicGrey, Stickers: Making Memories, Bling: Heidi Swapp, Rub-On: Maya Road.

Design Notes: I love the simplicity of a three color layout.  Using just one color from my photo with black and white makes such a strong statement--especially when I want to convey a simple message.