How important is attitude? I've learned a lot about attitude lately, the hard way.

I read a story that illustrates a good attitude:

A woman looked in the mirror one morning and saw that she had three hairs. ''Well," she said, "I think I'll plat my hair today."

The next morning she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I'll part it down the middle today.''

The next day, she had only one hair left. "Today," she said, "I'll wear a pony tail."

The next morning, she looked in the mirror and saw there was not a single hair on her head. "Yeay!" she said, "I don't have to comb my hair today."

That's a good and positive attitude.

I realize more than ever the importance of having a good and positive attitude. You can ask a person for something with a polite attitude and usually get it. On the other hand, if you demand something, your chance of getting it is slim.

I have recognized that there are times I need to change my attitude. For instance, the waitress is too slow, family or friends don't do as I want them to, traffic is too slow, church too long, I have to wait in the doctor's office, lines are too long in the stores, prices are too high, etc.

It's easy to see how everyone else needs an attitude adjustment, but it's hard to recognize that maybe it's ours that needs changing.

If we changed our attitude, would others not look as bad? Could it be that the problem all along was our attitude?

Philippians 2:4-5 -- "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

If we had the same attitude as Jesus, we would be slow to anger, eager to serve and always forgiving.

Linda Murrell is a cosmetologist and freelance writer who lives in Edgefield, S.C.