The kind of attention that leads to excellence comes out of caring.  The internal result of caring about the task of hand is equally valuable.  Caring turns tedious chores into prideful accomplishments.

When it comes to dealing with other people, I can't always tell how smart or honest they are, but somehow I sense whether or not they really care about the subject and about me.  That recognition of caring makes all the difference in how I react to them.

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When I have to get somewhere in the morning, shoveling snow is a painful chore.  When I don't, I enjoy going out and getting exercise with the snow shovel.  Same task -- different attitude.
I remember that same feelings about practicing music. 
Since this is true, I can make my life easier and more fun by figuring out reasons why I want to do the things that I will have to do anyways.


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This falls along the line of how to enjoy the Christmas spirit all year long.

How are the people you are happy to see arrive different than the ones you are happy to see leave?  Choose which type of reaction your presence creates.  Enjoy and appreciate whoever you are with.

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After a week of yucky weather, I'm still enjoying everyday:

Out of all the billions of stars, it only takes one sun to chase away the darkness and make a day and cheerful.  When that sun is hidden behind clouds, one person with a sunny disposition can have the same effect.  Each of us has a role in making the atmosphere warmer or colder.

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In our society, we too often rank the value of a job by how much we paid for doing it, rather than by how important it really is.

a) Which person does more to benefit our town:  A doctor who sets the bones of people who slipped on the ice, or a boy who shovels the sidewalk well enough that the people don’t fall?

b)  I actually enjoy my trips to haul my garbage and recyclables to the town dump.  It’s not because I like handling garbage; it is because the workers are always friendly and...

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