Have you ever been so tired that you can barely see straight? Well, I was at that point. I had been at the Missouri Public Speaking Academy for a week and went straight to the Missouri Cattlemen’s Show for the weekend. To top it off, it was so hot that I could literally see the heat waves rising off of the concrete. I wanted to sleep and desperately needed an air conditioner.  

While I was in Sedalia for the show, my dad and I went to get some food. As we drove in the air conditioning, I was complaining about how tired I was. I said, “Dad, I don’t want to go to basketball practice on Monday morning because I don’t want to run.” Three seconds later, I saw a man on the side of the road in a wheelchair struggling to propel himself up a hill in the blistering sun. I was speechless and had never been more humbled. I am not proud of that moment in my life, but that day I learned an impactful lesson. Not only should I be thankful for what I have, but I also have a choice—I can either feel sorry for myself or be appreciative of what I have. English writer, William Arthur Ward, once said, “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” I made a choice to be thankful and appreciative of opportunities. Now, I live my life with a different perspective. This change in perspective has completely changed my day, my mood and the quality of my life. Missouri FFA members, will you get caught up in a busy schedule, failure and tiredness? Or, will you show gratitude towards the opportunities set before you? 

What will you choose?