OVERLOAD

Life is complicated—that’s why it’s fun. There’s something new and exciting everyday we live. I don’t know about you but I like that. Of course the good we look forward to is always laced with the not so good. But, come on now. Most of us are adults and we know that’s just the way life comes down to us.

If we anticipate or worry about the not so good that could happen, we will rob ourselves of a lot of present happiness and joy. The fun I mentioned earlier does not come with the bad but with opportunity for good. Let me ask you, What do you do with all that?

Most of us look at life as a long, never-ending pathway stretching out ahead of us with many other pathways leading off to either side. So, life is filled with choices. Each of us must choose the proper path to follow. Unless the side paths lead to opportunity we should probably avoid some to them.

I hope the path you have chosen has a positive, pleasing destination to look forward to. Remember, we should have a positive goal out there we are always trying to achieve. There are objectives along the way, but the completion of each objective should keep us focused on that goal and should be part of the process of reaching that goal.

Of course, there are hazards we must consider. The bigger the goal, the less control we have over achieving it. Picture this: a tiny banty hen sitting on an ostrich egg. That’s shooting a little high, isn’t it?

We really don’t want anything catastrophic to happen as we seek to reach our goals. So, I would say we need to use only good, positive input in processing our goal(s). And, we don’t want to fall into the overload mode. We must focus on that which will bring the greatest means of satisfaction. We can’t get so strung out we lose focus of the desired end. Picture the ad for a certain business establishment: Family owned and operated. We shoe horses! We service cars! We outfit astronauts! We specialize in marriage, family, and individual counseling.

Get real! But, if we are not careful we run our lives a little like that. We get so strung out we loose sight of our intended destination.

And, one last thing: We had better choose our friends fairly carefully because this is one way of controlling our own behavior. Friends have such an influence on each of us. I want to be surrounded by those who are upbeat and encouraging. Some folks I used to know to be that way started eating unripe persimmons somewhere along the way. Ever see anyone weaned on a green persimmon? (I haven’t really—it’s just an expression). All is negative now and that is sad. Whose fault is that? The persimmon eater—the immature think it is someone else’s fault. I must take responsibility for the negative I choose along with the positive in my life. Wouldn’t you agree? He! loves you and I do too.

DON'T LET THINGS. . .JUST HAPPEN!

Did that title grab your attention? Here we are traveling through space and time just becoming victims of the unlived life. What did we miss out on yesterday because we just let things happen all around us? We never took the initiative to make things happen. If we continue at that everyday, we are in for a very dull existence.

Make things happen! Let’s see, who do we blame for non-achievement? Our parents (family background)? Our friends? Our environment? Our circumstances? God? Those constitute the Big 5. Grow up! Accept personal responsibility! Get on with your life! You are a big boy (girl) now! Get a life!

Was that too many question marks and exclamation points? Genius without education is like silver in the mine –Benjamin Franklin. Before you finish this letter you will receive a mini-education.

Make things happen! I can’t do it for you. No one else can make them happen either. I can help but you must Make things happen! Sophie Tucker, when asked on her eightieth birthday about the secret of achieving a long life, answered, Keep breathing! We can’t spend our time fretting about our age—we can’t change that.

There are other excuses people use. Perhaps one of the best is: I’m just too exhausted to make things happen! Let me share a little known secret someone sent me:
The antidote to exhaustion may not be rest. It may
be wholeheartedness. You are so exhausted because all
the things you are doing are just busyness. There’s a
central core of wholeheartedness totally missing from
what you are doing.
--David Steindl-Rast quoted
in I Will Not Die an Unlived Life
-Dawna Markova.
I would suggest that, in at least one area of your life, be intense. Here’s something to practice: The next time you feel like you need a nap, instead do something you are really excited about.

Remember, don’t let things just happen! Make things happen!