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YOUR ATTITUDE SUCKS
Kathlyn Q. Barrozo
Class of 1991, University of Santo Tomas
B.S. Medical Technology
A person’s attitude shows his definitive posture or stance that serves a specific purpose, circumstance or
situation. We are creatures designed with intellect and a soul, which contribute to our ability to adopt certain
attitudes in life. However, some people seem to have a type of attitude that turns off others; their attitude is
found to be lacking in finesse and sensibility.
Funny thing is, these people seem to think the world owes them a huge favor, so everyone else has to accept
their dispositions as they are—no ifs and buts. They go through life thinking that the sun rises and sets at their
behest, and the world revolves around them. They run roughshod over everyone else, not bothering to stop
and see if their inconsiderate disposition has hurt others or wrought irreversible damage.
With the start of a new year, it is imperative that each and every one of us take careful stock of how we have
gone through the past year thus far. It is time to take a long and hard look at how we have faced and interacted
with other people in our day-to-day lives. Have we perhaps hurt others with the words we have uttered? Have
we been compassionate enough to let others know that we were with them during their time of need? Have
we been sensible to the cries of others who were helpless? Have we been human in all our dealings?
It can be rather challenging to channel a positive attitude in times when every other person is bent on being
negative. It can prove a fruitless exercise to have prudence and circumspect when your neighbor seems to be
happy making your life miserable. It can become a true test of humanity when you feel that nothing seems to
be going as planned, and all things seem to be going any which way but not your way.
But it is still upon us to try our best to show the proper attitude, no matter how infinitely difficult it may be.
Look upon the fable of the crow and the pitcher. One can learn a lot about attitude based on that fable. In the
story, a really thirsty crow found a pitcher with very little water. When at first he thrust his beak into the pitcher,
he found out that he couldn’t quite get what he needed. He tried giving the pitcher a hard thump, hoping to
break it; he tried shoving against it in hopes of turning it over. When none of his earlier efforts gave him what
he wanted, he used pebbles. With hard work and sensible thinking, he made the water rise up so he could
drink up.
So, if you were the crow, would you consider the pitcher half empty or half full?
Questions for Discussion:
1. Be able to tell the story of The Crow and The Pitcher in your own words.
2. What lesson can we learn from the fable of The Crow and The Pitcher?
3. Is there a similar story you know of? Be able to tell the story in class.
4. Why is having a positive outlook essential?
5. Have there been times when you think you have not had the proper attitude? Why do you think so?