Attitudes

I've been thinking about people's attitudes. As such, you must now read my writing on my thinking about people's attitudes. It is the never ending circle of literary exposition, and I'm glad you're here.

If our lives were movies our characters would, obviously, be the headliners. We'd be the Clooneys, Downey Jrs, Streeps, and Therons. Yet, for some reason, if we were really honest, and chose by the way we actually viewed ourselves, we wouldn't cast those actors.

We'd cast someone like Michael Cera, or a softball catcher, or *shudder* Katherine Heigel.

We all too easily forgo reason and place heavy emphasis on every insecurity and imperfection we have. I've heard this sentiment elsewhere, but forgot where, so its mine now: When we look at other's Facebook's and Twitter's we see their highlight reel, but when we look at ourselves we see all the hidden things we hate about ourselves. And we unfairly put ourselves down in comparison.

It's true, you may be the only person who knows about your struggling body image, damaged relationships, or the weird mole on your chest that could pass as a third-nipple. And while everyone else appears to have it all together, we cast ourselves as the victims, the unworthy, and the unloved everyday.

Our natural tendency is to have a bad attitude towards life and others because we view ourselves as the downtrodden underdog. We think that everyone else is happy, successful and has less back hair, whereas we are self-centered, jealous, and lost. It's this feeling that everyone else has wronged ME and its THEIR fault I'm unhappy!

But don't forget, everyone has their own weird mole-nipple.

The thing about having a "good attitude" is that it's often contingent on other things going well. If its a beautiful day outside, you just got paid, got plenty of sleep and someone gave you an excellent compliment this morning its easy to be positive and peppy. And when you oversleep your alarm, are late to work, and thus, your morning meetings, are unappreciated for your hard work and forgot to pack your go-gurt! Then a "bad attitude" is expected, and, perhaps, might even be justified.

The problem is in the truth that if nothing particularly good happens today, our attitude will still hesitate on the edge of bad-ness.

Attitude is one of those things that you choose. You can't choose your personality, but you can choose behavior. And what is your attitude if not a way that you behave?

Avoid the temptation to cast yourself as the one everyone is against. Be a person who chooses to have a positive attitude outside of circumstance. Avoid the lie that you are the only person who matters. Be selfless.

Avoid Katherine Heigel. Be Robert Downey Jr.

Baja, Mexico

Every once in a while we are given an opportunity to do something meaningful. Not necessarily life-altering, grandiose or miraculous. But meaningful.

You and I are at one of those moments. Me, out of choice. You, because you clicked this link and are reading this blog and it's too late to back out now! I gotcha!

I'm going on a missions trip to Baja, Mexico with my wife, a few members of my church and a legion of smelly high schoolers (just kidding, some are in middle school). We will have the opportunity to do a good work in the people of Baja's lives, meet some of their needs, share a life enhancing message with them, and probably get diarrhea from eating the local food.

I sense you know where I'm going with this. Instead of viewing this as a careless money grab (unless that sort of thing works for you), I'd encourage you to see it in a different light.

I am blessed with the gift of being able to go. To take time off work, to partner with my church, and to help lead this missions trip with Michele, friends and, again, legion of smelly teenagers. Your gift may not be the same. Your gift may be that you are able to give. In the same way that LeBron James is gifted at basketball, I am gifted at watching him play basketball. We are both equally good at things related to basketball, so I am LeBron James and together we will win basketball games for Jesus! (or something...)

I digress. My gift is being able to go, your gift is being able to give. I want you to be a part of this trip with me. I want you to feel like you made a difference in the lives of people on the other side of a different country. And, in reality, you will have. These trips don't happen without money (the sad, but accurate, truth).

So, lets do something meaningful. Partner with me as a friend, brother, sister or stranger. Not simply so that I can go. I'll find a way somehow. But join me in doing something bigger than ourselves today. Join me in meeting the needs of people you don't know, and may never meet.

Follow this link: https://admin.everynation.org/giving-tendays/?missionary=100312322

It's already set up to donate to me and for my trip, all you have to do is enter how much. I'd encourage you to act now, in the moment. It's easier than shopping online (cause I already picked out what you're going to buy me, and now you don't have to worry about choosing which of the 12 items in your shopping cart you're actually going to buy).

Help me use my gift of 'going'. Otherwise I'll be forced to use my gift of 'watching LeBron James play basketball'. And I think we both know which one is more enjoyable. For both of us.


Feel free to email me with questions at andrew.j.mcgraw@gmail.com

RG Troi?

The debate rages on. Do the Redskins sell out this draft (and some of next year’s) to start a monogamous relationship with Robert Griffin, the third of his name? Or do we flirt with big name free agents, consummating in a deadly love triangle between two-game super star Matt Flynn and I-can’t-turn-my-head-left-but-am-still-a-Super-Bowl-winning-quarterback-so-pay-me-$25 million-a-year-Dan-Snyder-you-midget Peyton Manning?

Well I’m back from my hiatus to answer this question for you. So buckle up, kids, it’s about to get rusty.

Obviously there are many factors in play here. Is Shanahan planning to build for the future, or the final two years of his contract? How much are the Skins willing to trade for RG3? The Browns, who have better trade chips than the Redskins, are also in the running and (at this point) in better position to trade up for him. Did I just make you read a paragraph on things you already knew? Is your mouse hovering over the "close window" button?

Fine, let's get into it by dissecting our options.

Robert Griffin III

My case for RG3 is simple, if you have the opportunity to take a potential franchise quarterback, you have to do it. At all costs. It’s worth the risk because of the following:

1. If we don’t take RG3, who is starting under center for us next year? Certainly not Rex Grossman again. Peyton Manning? A huge injury risk who still, after an entire year off, still isn’t close to being fully healthy or throwing at normal strength. Matt Flynn? Another uncertainty with limited game experience and will cost more than RG3 in free agency. Ryan Tannenhill? A rookie out of Texas A&M with a much more limited skill set than Griffin? What are our real options here? Doesn’t Griffin present the best upside and long term value? I just don't see a better alternative at this time.

2. The fear is that RG3 will cost too many draft picks, and he will. But let me remind you- the Giants traded the San Diego Charges two first rounders, a third rounder, and a fifth rounder for Eli Manning in the draft. Griffin will cost the Redskins a similar, if not slightly higher price. Eli gave the Giants two Super Bowl wins and multiple years in the playoffs. Was that price not fair? Heck, for two championship rings I’d say the Giants got a bargain! I believe that is the kind of potential RG3 can bring to a team.

3.  If the Browns draft him, and he’s a super star, we’ll officially be the most embarrassing franchise in the NFL. And I ain't having that.

Peyton Manning

Look, I love Peyton Manning. I’ve rooted for him on multiple occasions and think he’s one of the best quarterbacks of all time. But severe nerve damage in your neck? Four neck surgeries? It’s uncertain he’ll ever return to 100%.

But isn’t 85% of Manning still better than half the quarterbacks in the league?

Probably, but it’s unsustainable. It’s like putting a bandaid over the stump where your leg used to be. Let me ask you this- ever sleep weird on your pillow and when you wake up your neck is sore in one spot? And during the day if you turn your head and stretch that muscle it makes you dribble pee down your leg in pain? Imagine having had four neck surgeries to repair a nerve in that neck. Now imagine having 300lb lineman and Adonis-figured linebackers trying to hit you as hard as they can. Imagine trying to look off safeties and whip your head around to hit your receiver in stride on an out-route. Try going through a five-read progression in 4 seconds while avoiding pressure.

There is a long way for Manning to go to return to form. I’m not certain I want to bank my future on another big name Free Agent who will cost too much and, likely, underperform.

I do love that signing Manning will mean also signing Reggie Wayne. It gives us an experienced (and legitimate) number one wide receiver, and a guy Peyton is comfortable with throwing to. We can ignore the fact that both are past their primes.

Matt Flynn

We’re not getting Matt Flynn. We just aren’t. He’ll end up in Miami back under Joe Philbin, or be franchised by the Packers. When the Redskins do free agency, they go big (Manning) or go-screw up draft picks.

Ryan Tannenhill

The only way I want to see Tannenhill on the Redskins is if he’s on the bench behind a full-strength Peyton Manning, scribbling on a clipboard frantically. I am not comfortable drafting him with the sixth pick and starting him the next season. He’s a bigger uncertainty than Griffin, and allows us to keep all of our draft picks, but he's a guy you draft and sit behind someone worth learning from (ie, not Rex Grossman). You can’t convince me he’ll do more in his rookie year than Grossman did last year. I also don’t see Shanahan banking his final years on a guy who will likely end up in the Blaine Gabbert and Jimmy Clausen arena.

Matt Barkley

Some even say let’s fill out our position needs this year and take Matt Barkley in next year’s draft. That’s as logical as me buying a Ferrari and Louis Vuitton man-purses for all my friends because I think I’ll win the lottery next year. There’s no guarantee we’ll even be in position to get Barkley. What if he’s projected to be taken first overall and we have the 10^th pick? Is it worth it to pay more for Barkley next year than Griffin this year?

Give me Griffin, give me hope and give me some excitement.