13. "Don't Make Excuses, Make Adjustments"

I don't know who originally said it, but my late father said this quote to my brothers and me frequently growing up. "Don't make excuses, make adjustments." When my father passed away, a good friend from our Escondido, California stake made the quote into this cool printout and put it in this frame. He and his wife gave it to me, my mother, and my six brothers. I still have it up in my room in my apartment. I try very hard to live by this saying. I know that if I don't finish an assignment on time or if I don't make it on time to an important event or if I lose my father at the age of twenty years old that the only thing I can do is make adjustments in my life. Making excuses or blaming others for my problems will get me no where. I am so grateful for my parents for not only telling me this saying, but also for being examples of it. My mother has made major adjustments to her life after my father passed away. She impresses me every day with how hard she works to serve others while also taking care of herself. I have zero excuse to be mad or angry at anyone since I can't control anyone. I can only control my attitude and behavior. So I choose to be happy and work hard. I'm not perfect at it, but I will continually adjust my life to try to be a little better each day. I know that's what the Lord would have me do. I know it's what my father would have me do. :)