Last spring I was walking in a park. A short distance ahead of me was a mom and her three-year-old daughter.

The little girl was holding on to a string that was attached to a helium balloon.

All of a sudden, a sharp gust of wind took the balloon from the little girl. I braced myself for some screaming and crying.

But, no! As the little girl turned to watch her balloon go skyward, she gleefully shouted out, "Wow!

I didn't realize it at that moment, but that little girl taught me something.

Later that day, I received a phone call from a person with news of an unexpected problem. I felt like responding with "Oh no, what should we do?" 

But remembering that little girl, I found myself saying, "Wow, that's interesting! How can I help you?"

One thing's for sure - life's always going to keep us off balance with its unexpected problems. That's a given. 

What's not preordained is our response. We can choose to be frustrated or fascinated.

No matter what the situation, a fascinated "Wow!" will always beat a frustrated "Oh, no."

So the next time you experience one of life's unexpected gusts, remember that little girl and make it a "Wow!" experience. The "Wow!" response always works.
 

Quotes for the day:

"Happiness depends on ourselves."
*-- Aristotle

"Change yourself and your work will seem different."
*-- Norman Vincent Peale

"Some folks go through life pleased that the glass is half full.  Others spend a lifetime lamenting that it's half-empty. The truth is: There is a glass with a certain volume of liquid in it. From there, it's up to you! 
*-- Dr. James S. Vuocolo

Relevant Reading :
How to use stories, anecdotes, and quotes to motivate, persuade, and inspire: Rob Gilbert

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