[EricH]

To tell the truth, there is a bit of GP at my work. Admittedly, I work in a place where a) we can be under a lot of stress and b) we're always interacting with the public. We have to at least act like we like to see the customers.

I've been seeing a lot of references made to point of view affecting life, and I'd like to offer this story:

It is said that an old man was sitting by the roadside outside a large city when a young man coming from a long ways away approached him and asked, "What are the people like in this city up ahead?"

The old man answered, "What were the people like where you came from?"

The young man said, "Oh, they were thieves, dishonest, drunken rascals. I was happy to get out of there."

Said the old man, "You will find them the same in the city up ahead."

The young man went on his way saddened. No sooner had he disappeared towards the city than another young man came along from the same place and asked the old man, "What are the people like in the city ahead?"

The old man asked, "What were they like where you are from?"

The young man answered, "They were honest, industrious, happy folk, and I was sad to leave."

Quoth the sage, "You will find them the same in the city up ahead."

The old man was on to something--how you see things goes with you, and affects everything. That's why first impressions (and good reputations) are so important. If you have the right attitude, you can get a better perspective on life.