Culture

     In the laboratory, cells can grow and develop with the correct mixture of chemicals, nutrients, and temperature.  In the community, people grow and develop with the correct parenting, moral values, and opportunity.  Genetics are a big part of how humans behave, but the culture surrounding them teaches both good and bad behavior patterns.  As we grow up, we can evaluate and choose to alter these patterns.
     Many people say if only both parents would be responsible, if only schools would prepare students for college and the work world, if only people would develop good values and uphold the law, if only society would provide employment opportunities, if only our culture could create the right mixture, then the behavior of our children and young adults would improve.
     We need to change the culture that allows nearly half of all children to be born out of wedlock.  These babies are at a disadvantage at their first breath.  Sex education and access to birth control is a must to prevent babies being born to "babies."  Self respect should be instilled in boys and girls to focus on developing their talents and to be responsible citizens who work and pay their way.
     Students should not be allowed to drop out of high school until they are 18 years old.  Next should come two choices: continue education at college or technical school or become gainfully employed. If  none of these choices is made within a short period of time perhaps 6 months, both male and female teens should be drafted into the military to develop discipline, get focused, and prepare for productive citizenship.
    As we grow up, we need to evaluate our own culture and understand other cultures.  Every culture can be improved.  Our responsibility is to become productive citizens and provide our children with the best mixture to grow and develop. 

Do Not Disturb

     So you want to put the Do Not Disturb sign on the doorknob, close the door, and enjoy privacy, peace, and quiet - be in your own world without interruption.  If the sign is ignored, upset and anger can follow.
     Sometimes a person's attitude can project the same message that you do not welcome interruptions or challenges to your own opinions and beliefs.  Comfort comes only with hearing and reading compatible opinions.  Other people may hesitate to even bring up subjects that contradict your way of thinking to avoid unpleasant communication.
     Putting a Do Not Disturb sign on your own thinking closes the door to questioning your preconceived ideas.  You may prefer living in the comfort of your own ideas without distractions.  Overconfidence in believing you are right and others are wrong may inhibit your journey towards wisdom.
     At times, we need to shut off our minds temporarily to get comfort and peace.  An escape from the outside world, a good rest, and sleep is necessary for our physical and mental health.  Once this is accomplished, we need to open the door, open our minds, and realize that being disturbed may be one way to improve our thinking.   

The Human Element

     Everything we read and hear contains a human element; likewise, everything we write and say.  The human element can contain mistakes, exaggerations, delusions, and wishful thinking.  It can be untrustworthy, misleading, and self-serving.  On the other hand, the human element can contain truth, creativity, and wisdom.
     Every written word comes from a human being, although some people are open to the possibility of spiritual inspiration.  Most religions are based on the belief that God has spoken and man has repeated the words and written them down, creating sacred texts.  We need to think about what comes from man and what may be authored by a higher power.
     When we read, we need to consider the authors and how the messages have been altered over time.  Some of what we read is myth, fable, and legend.  These creations gave an explanation of the universe  when societies lacked the sophisticated knowledge provided by modern science.  Even today, people continue to believe many religious myths.
     While some myths are ancient, others are being crafted today by politicians and advertisers.  These misleading and self-serving myths distort our thinking.  We may buy the ideas or products based on exaggerated or false information.  Be careful because what you read and hear may not be true.    
     When we write, we need to distinguish between fact and opinion.  Some of what we write is fact that we can back up with evidence.  Some of what we write may be our opinions, and we can include our reasoning that forms them.  Hopefully, our human element will contain wisdom.    

Comfort

     A baby feels comfort from a full tummy, easy digestion, warmth, softness, rocking, and sounds of a heartbeat or a parent's voice.  Some are comforted with a thumb or a pacifier.  As we get older, we add the comforts from clothing, furniture, heating, air conditioning, and sounds of nature and music.  Comfort also comes from the companionship of friends, family, and pets.  Pleasant memories add to our comfort.
     Some types of comfort can originate from our own mind.  We can comfort ourselves by changing our perspective from pessimism to optimism, from stress to relaxation, from worry to acceptance.  As we increase in emotional maturity, we can learn to expand our comfort zone.  Sometimes discomfort may be just a message that something is wrong that we need to change.  
     At some point in history, humans began searching outside themselves for control and comfort.  They pleaded with the sun and nature and invented gods who they hoped would improve their lives.  They got comfort from the idea that the right song, dance, or prayer could change the natural course of events.  They created burial rites which showed their belief in the afterlife and reuniting with ancestors.  
     Some people believe this is how religion came into being and why even today, comfort comes from the belief in a higher power.  They have faith that God provides nature for our use, holds us close like a parent, and eases pain, confusion, grief, and fear.  Some believers get additional comfort from the idea that guardian angles watch over them. 
     People without these beliefs must learn to comfort themselves and others.  Often discomfort with the many unanswered questions is just a part of life.  Comfort comes in appreciating nature and the human capability of thinking logically and solving problems independently or with the help of others. 
      Even when our physical and emotional needs are met, we will have times of discomfort.  We can use a variety of methods to provide comfort for ourselves and others.         
         

Whole Body Listening

Parents and teachers are using this technique to help children improve their listening skills:

Listen with the ears (without distracting noise)
Listen with the eyes (looking at the speaker)
Listen with the mouth (closed and quiet - no talking or making sounds)
Listen with the body (facing the speaker)
Listen with the hands (quietly at the side or in the lap)
Listen with the feet (standing still or quietly on the floor)
Listen with the brain (thinking about what the speaker is saying)
Listen with the heart (caring about what the speaker is saying)

How do you feel when someone is not listening when you are talking?
What does a speaker think about you when you aren't listening?

After learning whole body listening, children will still need reminders.  Their learning and social skills will improve, plus they will get better at making and keeping friends.  Theses tips can be helpful for all age groups.

Before the Final Page

     When you create a story, identify the characters by their personality, past accomplishments, problems they face, and ambitions they have for the future.  At some point, you need to image what happens to these characters and how the story ends.
     If you have already lived more than half of your life, you pretty much know your strengths and weaknesses and how you have faced important events in your past.  Now may be the time to imagine how you want your story to end.  Of course, no one knows the details of the end, but we can have some control over what happens between now and then.  Consider any unfinished business: a will, a living will, funeral arrangements, apologies, statements of appreciation and love. Getting your house in order makes it so much easier on your loved ones left behind.
     Once this business has been settled, the future is open to plan the last chapters.  We can appreciate how we have grown and improved over the years, how we have survived, and what we have accomplished.  This isn't a time to be morbid or sad but a time to celebrate and live life to the fullest.  We can continue to set goals and get on with living.
     A writer can control every aspect of a story from beginning to end.  Some of our story has been written, but we can make plans to be ready for whatever may come even though we can't write the final page.      

Co-exist with Nature

     At what point in history did we actually live with nature, keep it's balance, and even improve it's condition?  Think about the farmer using the soil, sunshine, and rain to produce food for family and income, replenishing the soil, rotating crops, only destroying pests when necessary, storing and preserving food to last through the winter, hunting and fishing, raising animals for food, and not allowing overpopulation of pets.  This rural picture is an example of people co-existing with nature.
     How far away most of us are now especially in the "big city," relying on others to produce our food, shipping it long distances, and processing it with chemical preservatives. Now we use nature to manufacture products unheard of in pioneer days.  Travel is quick and easy to faraway places but adds to using up energy sources and causing pollution.  Communication and information are also quick and easy to obtain.  Medical science has reduced disease and prolonged life.
     We enjoy the advances and rely on each other to survive.  Although we may no longer have the pioneer's close relationship with nature, we need to take care that we keep our natural resources safe. We should not damage or destroy; we must co-exist with nature.