Your morning thought for today:
Joy has nothing to do with material things, or with a man's outward circumstance. A man living in the lap of luxury can be wretched, and a man in the depths of poverty can overflow with joy.
-- William Barclay (1907-1978)clergyman and writer

Lesleigh is a new Heartwarmers' writer -- with a new way of looking at things. Read today's eye-opening story. It could change your life, as Heartwarmers often do. Thanks Lesleigh for your wonderful contribution.

Did you ever have something that someone said hit you like a ton of bricks? That happened to me at 8:05pm on Thursday, January 18, 2001. It is a day I will never forget.

I need to back track a little here, so you will understand where I am coming from.

In September of 1996, I walked through the doors of Marian College as an adult student going to college for the first time, at 44 years old. It has always been a dream of mine to go to college, but that didn't lessen the butterflies in my stomach, or my lack of confidence. Today I have completed 96 credits and I have 33 more to go. I've come a long way from that first night 52 months ago. It was during one of my current marketing classes that my instructor, Pam Schlenvogt, told us about "Get To", and I just can't get it off my mind. She told us that we walk through life making choices. Some of them are good, and some of them not so good, but hopefully we learn something from all of them. She told us that night a little about attitude and how it affects us. She gave us a hand out called "LIFE IS AN ATTITUDE" and walked us though Accountability, Tenacity, Truth, Integrity, Trust, Understanding, Dedication, and Excellence. She also told us that we cannot choose what happens to us, but we can choose our attitudes toward each situation (first brick).

If we walk through life on the path we have chosen feeling as though we HAVE to do this or we HAVE to do that, eventually we might feel overwhelmed. She then told us about changing our attitude and looking at the opportunities presented to us each day. If we look at those opportunities or challenges with a "GET TO" instead of a "HAVE TO" we might enjoy the journey just a little bit more (second brick).

I decided to make a conscious effort over the next couple of days to exchange the words "have to" with "get to" in my conversations with friends, co-workers, and family, but most of all in my thoughts, and something amazing happened. I noticed all the things I "GET TO" do and started appreciating the opportunities and challenges on my path.

Just imagine:
I get to go to school to fulfill my dream.
I get to go to work when so many people can't.
I get to do the laundry, thankful for a washer and dryer.
I get to play with my cat who is so thankful for the attention.
I get to say a prayer, I have freedom of speech.
I get to remember the things that make me happy.
I get to spend time with a friend, who needs my help.
I get to read a book, I still have my sight.

I give you a challenge. With every thought and conversation for the next day or two, change the words "I HAVE TO" with the words "I GET TO" and see if it makes a difference in your day.

by: Lesleigh Ann Schaefer

Lesleigh Ann is a college student working full time for a great company in Brookfield, Wisconsin. She says, "I still doesn't know what I want to do when I grow up, but writing is up there on my list along with graduating from college."

This story may not be reproduced in any way, without the author's written permission.