Like one rotten potato in the bag

        A rotten potato is not exactly the nicest image, but we all know what it does to the rest of the bag.   I am often guilty of being that rotten potato.   Just call me Mrs. Potato Head.

     A bad attitude spreads like fire and for some reason it's often me who starts the fire.   The reasons aren't really important right now ... Exhaustion, frustration, PMS.   The point is that it is highly contagious! For example, I was so frustrated with our broken faucet in the kitchen that I blurted out in anger, "if this isn't fixed by the end of the week I'm hiring someone to fix it!".   Well, that certainly put Matthew in a bad mood.  Matthew is not a fighter ... he's a builder.   So a wall went up between us. Talk about one comment being a rotten potato!  I argued my case for awhile .. "well, it's true.  I have asked over and over and it has to be fixed."   Didn't take me long to realize my motives were not right.   Let's face it, I could have hid behind my points, but the truth was I was threatening him.  I wasn't really going to call someone.   I was just mad and I wanted to blame someone.  After the walls came down I learned that Matthew had a plan to get help to fix it next week.  Fortunately we removed the rotten potato before it spread to the little Miss Potato Heads.

      I was watching a show the other day where one person in the family had a bad attitude.   It slowly spread to the entire family.   The Mother stepped in and explained how sometimes you have to just choose to be in a good mood.  The whole rotten potato thing works the other way too.  What happens when you pass sugar around?   Everyone gets pretty happy pretty fast.  I decided to try this theory out.


     JJ had been whiney for awhile and it was getting tiring.  I decided I wasn't going to tell her, but show her what I wanted.  I quickly and calmly explained how things were going to be.   I then got my broom and started sweeping.   I quietly started singing a song I know she loves.   The next thing I know she's joining me in cleaning the house!   She actually was becoming proud of her accomplishments!   I couldn't believe it worked.  Now of course it took Tee 3.5 seconds to undo our hard work .... which is another story for another time.


     We have a lot of power to influence people with our words and actions. I was in the store the other day and a lady asked if she could get by.   I barely had time to position my feet before she moves my cart, mutters, "or not" and stomps off.   I don't even know this lady, but she put me in a bad mood pretty fast.   I actually tried to follow her hoping we'd butt heads so I could confront her.  I realized pretty fast that was a stupid idea.  No need to throw another rotten potato in the bag.   On the flip side,  we were driving home one day and I was blankly starring out the window.   I didn't even register what I was looking at until suddenly at a stop sign a young girl on the sidewalk smiled at me.  So small, but sweet.   She probably didn't even realize she was spreading sugar.


     I certainly don't want to run around with sunshine coming out my butt.  That could be very annoying.  We have to be real ... we are human.  I do however need to be aware of how my attitude afftects others.  I suddenly have the urge to go look in my cupboard to see if I have any rotten potatoes.