Who can you pass it on to?

As you experience life a lot of things become more clearer when you are old and grey even though your vision may be less clear. As you then look back on things you think if I only knew then what I know now. You have to say there are a few things you would have done differently. But you know whats done is done and where you are is where you are. When you try to tell others what you have learned to help them they look at you like you have three heads. So what are you supposed to do with the knowledge you have learned if no one listens to it? I am writing the fourth book in the Just FLUSH It series so it would make a good chapter if it was full of lessons in life that could be passed on. Perhaps there is something you would like to pass on to others. Nowadays it's rare to get others to gather to talk. In our fast paced lives no one has the time or energy or desire to stop and have simple small talk. I would love to hear what you would like to pass on.

You can but do you really want to?

As you go through life you sometimes say one day I am going to do that. But by the time you get around to doing it you find yourself saying but should I do it? Waiting to do something that is physical you may find that you waited too long. At this point you may have waited so long you have to ask yourself can I do it and should I do it. Do what you can while you can. You don't want to have regrets. Work to achieve your dreams so your dreams can come true.

You decide first then they will decide

Where you lead them they will follow. What you teach them is what they learn from you. Every home is a classroom and every parent is a teacher. If you want them to grow up to be responsible, compassionate, hard working and honest adults then you have to teach them how to be responsible, compassionate, hard working and honest. The best thing you can do for your child is love them enough to let them be mad at you. They won't always like what you do at times along the way but when they are grown they will thank you.

There are many people who have a harder life

Today I am reminded that there are many people in far worse situations then the ones I am facing. Which is why you should  always be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. It is usually the ones who never complain and always have a smile and a positive attitude who are faced with terrible situations and you would never know it.  When you compare your life to theirs you realize just how lucky you really are which will make you look at your situation much differently. Your whole attitude towards your own situation will change. You will be thankful that it isn't as bad as it could be.

Are you a team player?

There are many different scenarios in life that will require you to team up with others. And as part of a team it will take teamwork to work things out so that everyone on your team gets what they need. It takes compromise to work out a plan. It takes listening to each other to know what each of you need. No one will get everything they want but everyone can each get what they need. Don't assume they know what you need because they won't unless you tell them. Don't assume you know what they need just listen and they will tell you. To be a team player you have to remember there is no I when you are on a team. Working together is the only way to keep your team together working to reach the goals you all planned. If you try by doing only what is best for you then you are not a team player and as a result everyone on your team will lose. It's like being on a baseball team and one player tosses the ball up in the air so they can catch it instead of throwing it to the first baseman to get the runner out. Obviously the other team will score runs which will cause their whole team to lose. It's okay to choose to play by yourself just don't join a team to do it. Before you team up with someone ask yourself, are they a team player?

You have to take the bad with the good

Everything has it's good points and it's bad points. You need to weigh the pros and cons to determine whether the good that can come outweighs the bad. Things may sound good but remember if it sounds to good to be true then it probably isnt true. The wolf may have been wearing grandma's clothes but it won't stop him from eating you. Your heart may say yes but your mind knows better.

Dogs are like alarm clocks

Summer break should mean we get to sleep in. So far our dogs have woken us up every morning to go outside. Apparently a half an hour past their normal schedule is as long as they will allow us to sleep in. But at least we get up to enjoy our summer days not sleep half of it away like we would if they would let us. The amount of things we have gotten done in the first week off makes me glad to have them as an alarm clock. Sometimes in life it takes the strangest things to happen to get you up and moving so you can focus on getting things done. But every now and again I hope they let us sleep in because sometimes it is necessary to get the rest you need to be able to focus at all.

The simple things are all that matter in the end

We all know we have to save for retirement all throughout your life. That way when you are ready to retire you are financially able to support yourself or you won't be able to retire. But are you making plans for the time when you are older and become physically tired that your life is simple enough to manage? You spend your life working to pay for and furnish the big house of your dreams. Then in the end you realize that a smaller home that is easier to manage is what you need and you have to downsize. Go figure. Keep things simple as you go through life because in the end only the simple things really matter.

It is better tp be prepared

As the hurricane season is upon us it is time to get prepared. It seems like I always need to buy flashlights. It's cheaper to buy an 8 pack of little flashlights with batteries for 10 dollars then it is to buy batteries. All year long until the next hurricane season me and the grandkids get a lot of use out of them. I do buy new batteries to replace in the smoke detectors at this time of year to make sure they are changed once a year to keep us safe all year long. As we stock up on water I make sure to get it early because when a hurricane is close the store runs out of supplies. And if you have ever experienced the nightmare of trying to find gas once the hurricane is near you know that you need to keep your tank filled when it is days away. With every season there is challenges and there will be preparations to be made to enjoy each season. Right now school is out for the summer break and I have been preparing to entertain the grandkids and keep them busy so we can all enjoy it. No matter what season it is, it takes work to prepare so you can enjoy it. Your life's journey has challenges and a change of seasons too that you have to prepare for in order to enjoy your life. Because ready or not the seasons will change.

Sheltering them from the cold wont keep them from needing a coat when they go outside

Parents naturally want to protect their children. They want to shelter them from the cold cruel people in the world we live in. But eventually they will adventure out on their own. They won't be prepared to know how to handle the people and things they will encounter if they don't know what is really out in the world. It is better to let them see how it really is and learn while you can still keep them safe so they will always be safe when you are not with them. You have to teach them how to swim so they don't sink in spite of the fact that you know there are sharks in the water.

Would you if you could?

If you could would you? Even in our complicated ever-changing world we live in a random act of kindness can make a world of difference to someone. Taking the time to make someone smile is time well spent. But would you take time out to do it? Be kind to everyone you meet because you have no idea what they may be facing. The old saying is true you reap what you sow. What seeds are you planting as you go throughout your day?

Save your money it is free to enjoy

Have you ever wandered why some clouds race by while others don't move? It's as if some are participating in a race and the other ones are just there to watch them. As I sat watching them race in the sky I was so intrigued that I didn't notice how fast the time was flying by. It felt like only a few minutes I was watching them yet an hour had gone by. Nature provides free relaxing entertainment all the time. You got the clouds in the daytime and stars at nighttime. Not to mention all the animals, bugs and vegetation that are always around to amuse you. In these tough economic times you don't have to have money in your budget for entertainment because you can always enjoy nature for free. When you are having a stressful day let the wind help you FLUSH IT away.

The door may be unlocked but you still have to open it to get inside.

You can't go through your life with blinders on or you will get blindsided by reality. Even when you choose the straight and narrow path there will still be boulders that fall suddenly and block your path. You will then need to walk around it or you will hit it head on. As time goes by in our ever changing world you can't even rely on the things that use to work before. You have to keep your eyes wide open as you go throughout your life and be flexible enough to bend like a pretzel if it is necessary to keep yourself on track. Keep in mind that usually when one door closes another door opens. But if you don't keep your eyes wide open and look for a door that opens you won't see it. The door may be unlocked but you still have to open the door to get in.