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I worked for a while as a substitute teacher back in my home town of Eau Claire, WI. At one point I was a long term sub teaching Special Education, LD. LD was the code the school system used to specify the type of special education. LD stands for learning disabled.

Those were some of my favorite classes to teach. I don’t know if I would have labeled the kids as disabled. To me they mostly just seemed like tougher kids. They probably just learned a little differently than other kids and if I had to guess, I would guess that many of them brought a lot of baggage from home when they came to school each day. Of course it wasn’t my job to diagnose them and I know nothing about this kind of thing.

Anyway, there was one day, I don’t know how we got on the subject but I started talking to them about how we all have the ability to choose our thoughts. I don’t have any idea of any if them remember that day but to me, it was one of the best times I ever had teaching.

We had a wonderful discussion full of passion, some arguments and what seemed like, at the end of the class, a lot of powerful realizations. There was a quietness to the room when the bell rang that wasn’t usually there, like they were leaving the room with a lot to think about. And I remember wondering then, like I still do now, why isn’t this kind of thing being taught to every kid in high school, or earlier?!!! That sure would have saved me a lot of grief!

It can be fun to talk with people for the first time about the ability to choose their thoughts. It can bring up a lot of emotion. When someone realizes this for the first time, what they are realizing is 1) power and 2) responsibility. The power comes from the realization that they no longer need to rely on other people or events and situations to determine how they feel. Then the responsibility kicks in. They also realize they can no longer blame other people, events or situations for how they feel!

Learning that “I Get To Choose,” was one of the turning points in my life and represents one of the most important pieces of information I have ever learned. When my wife and I started reading and listening to self improvement material, we were going through books and tapes as fast as we could go. I don’t remember exactly where I first came across this information. I don’t think I read anything at that time that directly referred to The Law Of Attraction. This was before the Secret and before people were talking about this kind of thing as commonly as they are today.

I was reading several books at once and filling tons of pages in a journal as I digested all of this new information. I couldn’t believe no one had ever told me that I can control my thoughts! It was again, those twin realizations of power and responsibility.

Still, knowing I can control my thoughts is only part of the puzzle. It can still be tough to remember that in times of intense reaction. For me, I need to have an overall picture of the world in place. I need ways to understand why things might be happening the way they are. I can’t just try and wrestle my thoughts into place when they aren’t where I want them.

For me, the Fun Side Of Life is my overall view of the world and the different songs and messages I am sharing with you all come together to create that world. When those things are in place, it is much easier for me to remember that “I Get To Choose.”

Thanks for being here!
Matt

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