THE PETALS THAT FALL Written 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.
| | Give Up to Get LoveWritten by Rinatta Paries
Many times when people want to attract their ideal partner, they often make a list of things to do -- action steps, if you will -- that will help them meet "the one." They add new activities into their routine, join dating services, write singles ads. They may start an exercise program or buy new clothes in an effort to look better. They let their friends know they're "in market."Seldom do people think of giving up something as a way to attract Mr. or Ms. Right. Well, this is not entirely true. People may give up such things as smoking or overeating. But kind of "giving-up" I'm referring to is about your beliefs, attitudes and feelings. Giving up something in one of these three areas is more likely to lead you to your Mr. or Ms. Right. Here is a list of five things you should consider giving up if you want to attract your Mr. or Ms. Right: 1. Give up anger at opposite sex. You can tell when people have a chip on their shoulders. And yet those who are angry and disappointed with opposite sex think their feelings are undetectable. If you can truly give up anger, you have a much better chance of attracting partner you want. 2. Give up on your past relationships. Most of us can tell when someone is unavailable or ambivalent about dating because of an unfinished relationship. If you hope that one of your past partners will come back, others will be able to tell. Your ideal partner will surely want a completely available partner. You'll be hard pressed to attract him or her until you are completely available. 3. Give up trying to be perfect in order to attract a mate. As long as you think your body, your pocketbook or your emotional well-being have to be in perfect shape in order to be loved, you will remain alone. A state of perfection can seldom be achieved - we are as human beings are inherently imperfect. You are peachy just as you are for some lucky person out there.
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