“It’s not your position in life; it’s the disposition you have which will change your position.” (Dr. David McKinley)

Lately these quotes have spoken to me about my attitude, and about what it takes to change my life. Today I am reminded that it isn’t about where I am now, it is about how I view things that determines where I can go next.

There is a scene from an old comedy (maybe from the 3 Stooges), where a man asks for directions to some landmark. The person giving the answer starts a number of different paths, only to stop and say that they won’t work. After a few, hilarious  runs of this, he tells the traveler “you can’t get there from here. You have to go someplace else first.” This bit of absurdity works well for the humorous moment. We all know, of course, that we can get anywhere from where we are now, if we follow the right path.

Today this quote reminds me that if I want to change where I am in life, the key isn’t to “go someplace else first.” The key is to have the right frame of mind, or disposition. Only when I truly want to make a change will I be able to do so.

Those who know me in person know that I am overweight, and that is putting it mildly. To say that I have struggled with my weight would imply that I have actively tried to do something about it and failed. Sure, I have lost weight in the past, only to put it back on. But, in more recent years I haven’t even really been trying. I have had days when I wished I was thinner, when I wished my knees didn’t hurt so much. I have wished that I was still as fit as I was 10 or 15 years ago. But, I haven’t done anything about it yet.

Now, I am not going to sit here and make a proclamation about weight loss. I have had that blow up in my face too many times, and had to deal with people giving me crap about my failed attempts. But, I do know this, my mindset and disposition to change are better as I sit here on the 18^th of February in 2014, than at any time recently. I have seen firsthand what a bit of self-discipline can do for one’s waistline. I have seen someone drop more about 20% of their body weight in the last 6 months.  I see this person being complimented by one and all on the accomplishment. Those compliments are well-earned, not just for the loss of weight, but for the dedication and determination that brought it on.

I am inspired today. Whether that inspiration will last an hour, a day, a week, a year or a lifetime remains to be seen, but right now my disposition is different from just 24 hours ago.

I missed writing this morning, when I usually post my thoughts. I wasn’t sure until my fingers hit the keys today what I would write. But, I end today inspired to do better, and my bedtime prayer will be for the strength to take my inspiration and make something of it.