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As long as I can remember, April 15th has been a day to dread. My father always waited until the night before the 15th to start working on his returns and absolutely NO ONE wanted to stay at home during those next two days. Tempers flared and it was not a pleasant time. I never had to worry about it much personally until my own income started becoming worthy of filing. When the new computers came along that weren't the size of an entire room in our house, my father bought a computer with the software available to do his returns. Now the very day he gets his W-2's he's ready to sit down and do them immediately. Not only his own but now he wants to do everyone's else's. I'm not sure if that's because he's retired now and that gives him something to do, or if he truly enjoys filling out others returns, but the new technology has definitely changed his attitudes about how hard it is to do this major task. I, on the otherhand, have fought this computer thing all the way, and yet when I use it for my own program, I love how easy it has made my job of qualifying the buyer. It's really all in the attitude, and training, that each of us have with any given thing or event, that makes a dramatic difference in how we deal with life and it's requirements. William James said, "It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult undertaking which, more than anything else, will determine its successful outcome." This is true about practically everything in our lives.    

When my two sons Michael and Aaron were little boys, I tried to make helping mother a fun job. My mother has always been an excellent seamstress, so I had her make Batman and Robin capes to fit the boys. When I needed help putting the folded clothes away I would call Michael and Aaron out and ask them to go and call for Batman and Robin so they could help me. With great glee and excitement they would both take off in the direction of their individual rooms and come back dressed as their heroes. The clothes were all put away, work all done and I would thank the heroes for all of the hard work. Then I would ask where Michael and Aaron were. They said they didn't know but would go find them for me. Shortly after that conversation my secretive, elated boys would be standing there saying,"Hi," and asking me where the supposed heroes were. I would say how strange it was that whenever they were around, the heroes were gone. The game went on for many years without tiring of it. I tried not to over use it. Their attitude about helping Mom was positive and with very few complaints. ( I wished that same game would have been workable when they were teenagers).    

Another way I tried to help my boys through a normally trying time, was during potty training. When reading the book, "Curious George" I got an idea about taking little toilet paper squares and making boats and hats to put above the toilet tank in a large, fish size, brandy bowl, that were popular at that time. The boys would get up on their stool, reach for a boat or hat, throw it in the toilet bowl water and proceed to try and sink the boat, or hat, by aiming accurately at it. This made toilet training much easier on them and it helped to keep the seat relatively clean for me.    

All of these examples have to do with setting up an attitude in the beginning of an event or setting. I suppose there's not allot I can do to make tax time easier for any of you and myself included, but I can share some cute cartoons about the IRS that might lighten your day at what is normally considered a very tough time for some. Now if you work for the IRS and some of my clients have over the years, don't take these cute cartoons as a personal affront on you. They're there to make you laugh.    

When I went into my tax audit this last year, I tried to go in with an optimistic attitude. I tried to view the IRS as the giant Moby Dick and me in row boat with a spear and a gallon of tartar sauce. It must have worked, because I won ( with help from my CPA and good records).    

My prayer for you all this month is that you have an easy, uncomplicated, uncostly experience with your returns and the IRS. Remember, just as we are each responsible for our own tax returns, we cannot assign the responsibility to another, not even our CPA's, so we are all responsible for our attitudes and expressions. We cannot blame another. Not our parents, our employers, or any one else. Our expressions and actions can reveal more than any words will ever tell. People will see on our faces the attitudes we hold within. We are all responsible for our own expressions and attitudes. Good luck and God bless.  

Connie Gibson 


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