JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
What is the first thing you notice about a person when you meet them? It could be their looks, what they are wearing, or perhaps it's the way they carry themselves.
Remember the old saying, "you can't get a second chance at a first impression"?
I distinctively remember meeting my first supervisor as a newly assigned Airman. When I arrived at my first duty station, I was met by this "hardcore" non-commissioned officer. This guy was the epitome of old school. He would be in the office 30 minutes early shining his boots and smiling the entire time. He carried himself very well, spoke with confidence and was always in a great mood.
Needless to say, I was truly impressed with his professionalism and especially his way of handling the pressures of everyday life. As time passed, he was not only my supervisor; he became my trainer, mentor and someone who I dearly admired. I once asked him how he could be in such a good mood all of the time. His reply was simple. He said, "Attitude is a choice. You can either choose to be upset or you can choose not to be upset."
He went on to say that there are always going to be situations that we as people are going to have to deal with and life isn't always going to be easy. He told me if I only remember one thing that he taught me, it was to always remember that your attitude is everything.
If you really stop and think about it, attitude sets your course and prepares you for any situation in your life. Essentially your attitude will make or break you. One of the most important attributes a person can have is their ability to maintain a great attitude. Life is sometimes hard and challenging at times. The mission we do here at Joint Base Charleston and the demands that come with it can be very stressful. We can overcome these feelings by simply "choosing" to have a great attitude.