Got "Have-Tos"?

Written by Kathy Gates


Ever had an attack ofrepparttar "have-tos"? "Have-tos" are an interesting phenomenon. They come in several variations like haveta, gotta, needto.also sometimes referred to as "hate-tos".

These "havetos" seem to invade our daily life. First, try listening to others to notice how often they say this. Then listen to yourself as well. I think you'll be surprised.

The connotation of "haveto" makes me tired just to say it. It implies that I'm doing something I don't want to do. It implies that I'm being pressured by external sources, instead of inspired and motivated internally. It implies that I might push back. It implies that I will procrastinate. It implies that I won't be happy while I'm doing it.

But "havetos" are not necessarilyrepparttar 101915 bad things that we make them out to be. "Havetos" can be your friends, if you are using them in a way that works FOR you instead of against you.

"Havetos" relate to what you want in your life. I got up from my computer this morning, and mumbled "I have to go waterrepparttar 101916 flowers." Now that's not exactlyrepparttar 101917 truth. I do have options: 1. Let them die. 2. Install an automatic watering system. 3. Pay someone else to do it for me. 4. Delegaterepparttar 101918 job to someone else inrepparttar 101919 household. 5. Don't plant flowers inrepparttar 101920 first place.

My point is that IF I want flowers, I may "have to" water them, but that is part ofrepparttar 101921 bigger picture. It's not a do or die situation. It's my choice.

You might say "I have to go buy groceries", or "I have to take outrepparttar 101922 trash", or "I have to brush my teeth". Those may not be things that are enjoyable to you, but you don't really HAVE to do any of them. You may alienate members of your family, coworkers, or friends if you don't do them. But then.that'srepparttar 101923 bigger picture, isn't it? The "haveto" is a direct reflection of what you want.

THE PETALS THAT FALL

Written by Arleen M. Kaptur


A flower bud offers so much hope and expectation forrepparttar potentially beautiful bloom that is to follow. We watch it gently open its petals and bask inrepparttar 101914 warm sunshine ofrepparttar 101915 day. The fragrance fillsrepparttar 101916 air withrepparttar 101917 aroma of life and evenrepparttar 101918 night hours cannot fade its brilliant color and delicate details. But one dayrepparttar 101919 petals begin to fall one by one ontorepparttar 101920 ground. Our flower begins to fade in beauty but a miracle lies within. There deep inside inrepparttar 101921 very plant that brought it to fulfillment, there liesrepparttar 101922 future growth and possibility forrepparttar 101923 following year and more breath-taking delight in new growing seasons.

Well, life is so much like this flower. Babies and children truly delight us with their fresh newness and comical antics. As they search to knowrepparttar 101924 world around them, they can sometimes mess up ours. They spill, fall, fight, and grow. Our eyes deceive us as we don’t noticerepparttar 101925 evolving adult in that beautiful child. Our ears close to their endless chatter, and our feet get weary of following them and insuring their safety. Before long, and without any notice, they are young adults and capable of making decisions and following their own dreams.

We are adults for a longer time in our lives than we are children. How many times we long for those carefree days of letting each day bring on fun, joy, and total abandonment to whatever comes our way. As adults, we plan, schedule, and keep “to do” lists. We keeprepparttar 101926 world in motion and we clear a path forrepparttar 101927 future generations. Adults create products and innovations to make life easier, and more fulfilling. Bridges bring people and nations together, and bricks build homes and families. Cultures teach us to tolerate differences and history shows us what to avoid. Then, without any warning, we reach our golden years. Retirement from our jobs is as close as a heartbeat and we relinquishrepparttar 101928 heavy reins of industry and business torepparttar 101929 next generation of adults. It becomes our time to bask in our achievements or to remember, smile, and relishrepparttar 101930 memories. Whether our thoughts bringrepparttar 101931 good times orrepparttar 101932 bad, they all had a hand in formingrepparttar 101933 life we have andrepparttar 101934 thoughts we possess.

As senior citizens, our eyes may not be as bright as a child’s, but they still carry a vision. Our hands are not smooth and delicate,repparttar 101935 story of labor and hardship is etched in them forever. However, our words can still delight and bring joy torepparttar 101936 youngest ofrepparttar 101937 young and torepparttar 101938 current adult world. We have memories, successes and failures to relate. Our stories give insight into what was and what can be. Each day still has its challenges but also its rewards. The hours can be filled with what we enjoy, or they can be wiled away while we wait forrepparttar 101939 inevitable. Life goes on whether we like it or not. To choose not to enjoy what it has in store will just crimp our ability to continue growing and achieving self-satisfaction and self-esteem. We are who we are and that is what we have to work with. We can sit back or we can reach up. The choice all through life is ours and so arerepparttar 101940 rewards and consequences.

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