I’m a big fan of the TV show ‘Two And A Half Men’, and a line from that show is the basis for this post.
For those who may not be familiar with the show, it’s about two brothers. Charlie, played by Charlie Sheen, is a hard-drinking playboy who lives on the beach in Malibu. For him, life is a game. His brother, Alan, played by John Cryer, has been forced to come live with Charlie after divorce puts him into financial straits. Alan is uptight and anal, and resents the ease with which good things come to Charlie.
In the episode in question, Charlie has injured his “male parts” while having sex, and Alan has accompanied him to the hospital to be inspected. The doctor turns out to be a beautiful young woman, and Charlie can’t help but hit on her. Alan is amazed and appalled, and when the doctor leaves the room, he gives Charlie an earful of his opinion.
Charlie’s response: “The difference between you and me is that when life gives me a lemon, I make lemonade. When life gives you a lemon, you bite in and suck it inside out.”
The basic difference between the two brothers, and a common theme throughout the show, is in their attitudes toward life, and Charlie’s line gives as good a description as you are likely to find. Interestingly, most people will fall into one of the two categories; lemonade makers or lemon suckers.
Anyone who has spent any time in self-reflection or self-improvement studies is likely nodding his or her head right now. It’s pretty easy to see how attitude effects us all. What’s not as easy is knowing how to make changes in our attitude. I’m looking forward to sharing more perspectives, techniques, and tools for doing just that here in 2010.
Wishing you a great year!
Tim Star