Many of you know that Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor. He served in this capacity from 161 to 180 AD. What is lesser known is that he was also a Stoic philosopher. He wrote a book called Meditations. In a line from this book, Marcus Aurelius states, "If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment."
What he is talking about is one's attitude and how changing the way we process information, interaction and stimulus can be affected by the degree we let it have an effect upon us. For example, sometimes our campouts are not always warm and sunny. Yet in conditions that would make many miserable, I have seen Scouts playing in the snow and singing in the rain. This can be true in our interactions with people as well. Have you ever been in a situation where another person's grouchiness and sharp tongue has ruined your day? Have you ever considered that you let it ruin your day, as you could have just as easily brushed it off and had a pleasant day? Our attitude can turn life's lemons into lemonade. We can choose to dwell on the negative or embrace the positive. What is sure is that life is better for us and those around us when we maintain the right attitude. This is the essence of Scout Spirit.
A Scout is Cheerful.