It's Shine Time

I love to read.  I read for entertainment, for education and to make me think.  I read somewhere "Everybody has problems.  The only place you find people without them is in the cemetery.  Be different, let go of your troubles and start to shine.  Be all that you can be."  This quote falls under the category THINK.

I am one of the few people without troubles.  Perhaps I have them.  I just choose not to dwell on them.  My wants are few.  I have a roof over my head, food for nourishment and friends and family who love me and I love them in return.  So when am I going to start all this shining and how does one shine anyway?  If a person shines what is it about them that makes others say they shine?  Does one have to be successful to shine?  See what I mean, makes one think.

When I was a teenager in the 60s there was a popular song called Windy.  Windy shined.  As I recall, the song goes something like this:

                  Who's tripping down the streets of the city?
                  Smiling at everybody she sees?
                  Who's reaching out to capture a moment?
                  Everyone knows it's Windy.
                  Who's bending down to give me a rainbow?
                  And Windy has wings to fly above the clouds.

This would be a poets' definition of someone who shines.  Not a successful businessman who makes lots and lots of money, but someone who can smile even in the worst of times and still reach out to help someone. 

When I think of people who shine I think of Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou and SARK.  People who have struggled but rose above the challenges and held their hand out to help others out of the dark pit of despair.    You don't have to be famous to shine.  I have a girlfriend of some 40 odd years that fits that description.  She is not rich and famous and by many standards, she would not be considered successful.  In my book, Ida is successful.  When she walks in a room, people turn and look her way.  Why?  Because she shines.  She never has a bad thing to say about anyone.  She is always ready to help someone in need even when she may be down on her luck.  Funny thing about that though.  I only remember one time when she was down and out and that was not her situation but that of someone she loves.  People who shine seem to rise above the troubles.  They have the same woes but their attitude is different.

Perhaps that is the answer.  A person who shines has a positive attitude.  They see their life through rose colored glasses.  Wherever they go they seem to bring their own sunshine along with them.  A person who shines will take something they don't like and change it.  If they are unable to change it then they will change the way they look at.  Attitude is a little thing, that makes a big difference.  So if attitudes are contagious, is your attitude worth catching?