2 of 6

Write now Article Tools

When I was a junior in high school, my English teacher opened one of our classes with a talk on aphorisms, or as he introduced the subject, "words to live by." As he droned on I half-listened and doodled in my notebook. But then he said something that caused me to look up and pay attention. It was a quote from G. K. Chesterton, author of the wonderful "Father Brown" mysteries.

"An Inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered."

For whatever reason, this hit my adolescent brain like a burst of cold air. I grabbed my pen and asked the teacher to repeat it. As he did, I wrote it down in my notebook. I underlined it. I circled it. I knew that at that moment, something had changed in my world outlook.
This was the first time that the concept of attitudinal adjustment, the "half full/half empty glass" question, really registered with me. From that day I began to understand that I had some choice in how I perceived my world. My teenage angst began to fade. Life was good. And oh! what an adventure my life has been since.

Learn more about this author, Arthur Daniels.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about How an aphorism or motto can have great impact on your life?
We want to hear your view. Write now!