THE PETALS THAT FALLWritten by Arleen M. Kaptur
A flower bud offers so much hope and expectation for potentially beautiful bloom that is to follow. We watch it gently open its petals and bask in warm sunshine of day. The fragrance fills air with aroma of life and even night hours cannot fade its brilliant color and delicate details. But one day petals begin to fall one by one onto ground. Our flower begins to fade in beauty but a miracle lies within. There deep inside in very plant that brought it to fulfillment, there lies future growth and possibility for 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 know world around them, they can sometimes mess up ours. They spill, fall, fight, and grow. Our eyes deceive us as we don’t notice 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 keep world in motion and we clear a path for 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 relinquish heavy reins of industry and business to next generation of adults. It becomes our time to bask in our achievements or to remember, smile, and relish memories. Whether our thoughts bring good times or bad, they all had a hand in forming life we have and 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, story of labor and hardship is etched in them forever. However, our words can still delight and bring joy to youngest of young and to 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 for 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 are rewards and consequences.
| | EXACTLY WHAT IS SUCCESS Written by Arleen M. Kaptur
Success - we all read about it, hear it on news, and label some individuals as “successful.” The world’s concept is believed to be related to amount of money a person earns, size and location of his/her house, and vehicles they drive. If you vacation in a far-off land, you are successful. If you wear designer clothes and dine or entertain at renowned restaurants you are successful. There are many definitions for success, almost as many as there are individuals. Your idea of success may not be mine and vice versa. I may not be concerned with what I drive and do not base this on success. You, however, might take great care in who shops at what store in order to attain label of success. Whatever your criteria is for placing someone, including yourself, on a preferred list of successful individuals, is based in part on what is of value to you. If you value home location, then successful people live in certain areas. There are those that feel that opulent spending signifies status in honor rolls of life. Who is correct and what assumption is accurate? None of them are and yet they all are. No matter what you base concept of successful living on, only individual involved can attest to fact that they feel successful. There is an old saying that “only true success will lull you to sleep at night.” True success is basically living up to your potential and fulfilling life goals and expectations that you have set for yourself. You work hard to make your dreams come true, your family is well taken care of so you can rest at night. Yet, there are those who do not have financial comfort, yet make do with what they have and share their love and attributes with their family and friends. Both individuals are successful. They have done what is expected of them and beyond.
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