Conscience

   
     Develop your own and develop your children's conscience, that inner voice that helps us make choices that benefit ourselves and others.  Teach your children why, according to you, some choices are better than others.  Have them learn that other people may have reasons to disagree.  We all should be aware of the variety of choices people make.
     Not because your parents told you so, not because Big Father or Big Brother have handed down the laws and observe your behavior, not because you will be rewarded or punished, but develop a conscience that will promote survival, develop intellect and logic, sustain mental and physical health, plus protect nature.
     A child or adult is responsible for actions and should be aware of possible consequences.   Pleasing others has it's place but shouldn't be the primary reason to do or not to do.   Put the past in its place and train your mind to think, analyze, and define your behavior.  Understand who has made the "rules" and why they were made.  Don't fill your mind with obligations that may not make sense.   Be proud when your children gradually become independent thinkers.  They may not agree with you, but that is their right.  Let their conscience be their guide.

Lost For Good

   
     Never to be seen again, people, possessions, the past, and ideas leave your life often with feelings of sadness.  We may still miss what was lost, but we can go forward and recover.  We can repeal and replace laws and ideas with improved versions, but often the value of an earlier version will be sadly missed.
     We miss people now gone from our lives, possessions lost, and ideas once held dear.  We sometimes miss the past, our childhood, and other days gone by.  When we revise our ideas, we may miss the benefits of earlier beliefs.   Progress, however, needs to be welcomed.
     Baby teeth need to be lost in order to make space for adult versions.  This can also be said about  beliefs formed in childhood that need to make way for well-thought-out ideas of adulthood.  The past must not hinder the present.
     Some losses are beyond our control.  Some losses will always be missed.  Other losses may be necessary in order to improve.  Lost for good can mean lost forever or lost for our benefit.
     
   
   

Sensational

   
     Whatever gets your emotions going, whatever takes you away from the ordinary or humdrum, these topics grab your attention and can affect your behavior.  You may need to be more careful about what you listen to, talk about, watch and read about because some topics may distort your thinking.
     The news media presents sensational stories beginning with crime, violence, natural and man-made disasters, life-threatening or death-causing events, then goes on to politics or celebrity tidbits, and ends with cute, feel-good trivia.  Social media is full of kids, pets, political and religious opinions, the heart-warming or heart-breaking, full of emotional content.  Facebook readers can respond with like, love, ha ha, wow, sad, or angry emojis.  Popular movies often contain violence and crime or romance and sex, anything emotional and beyond reason.
     We are bombarded with the sensational; we seldom are encouraged to think logically.  We may be shocked or entertained temporarily and even share these emotional topics with others, but we should think about why we are so fascinated.  Some experts say that our brains evolved in a hunter-gatherer environment where anything novel or dramatic had to be attended to immediately for survival.  We still may be using our primitive brains and become thrill-seekers.
     Emotions are essential for human development, but they shouldn't take over our logical thinking.  An overwhelming desire for emotional highs and lows can inhibit the necessity of dwelling in reality. Outside influences can stimulate us to irrational opinions and behaviors.   We may occasionally need a respite from our day-to-day lives, a need to lighten our load, but be wary of spending too much time and energy on the sensational.

               

Enough

   
     When we realize we have enough, when we help others have enough, we can reach a state of satisfaction.  We may need more to stay healthy, to reach our potential, to complete necessary goals, but we also need to realize when enough of something is enough.
     We may or may not have gotten what we needed in the past.  Something might not have seemed enough.  Hopefully, we can learn how to provide for ourselves now and in the future.  Sometimes, we have too much of a good thing and need to cut back.  Sometimes, we indulge in the detrimental.
     We need to face reality instead of creating fantasy.  Down through history, humans have had trouble understanding reality and have been uncomfortable with the unknown.  Even though they were the most evolved of all creatures, they considered themselves above it all.  Their intelligence allowed them to discover new things and solve problems.  Their imagination often created ideas to explain the unknown.  They passed down what they learned and ideas they created, some truth and some fantasy.
     Some people are not satisfied with being a part of nature.  They want to have answers to the mysteries.  They feel more comfortable with someone or something guiding and protecting them.  They want more than what nature provides and what they can provide for themselves.  When you take the responsibility of caring for yourself plus helping others when needed, feel satisfaction.  Enjoy your life but don't expect the impossible.  Know the difference between reality and fantasy.  Appreciate nature and know when enough is enough.
     You can follow the sentiment in the illustration, but add this: Where you are right now may be enough for now, but keep on striving for clarity and improvement.
         
   
   

Independent

   
     Our country decided to become independent, knowing that it did not need another to rule over us.   We had the self-confidence, courage, and responsibility to take care of ourselves with freedom and a democracy to create and uphold our laws.  Elected representatives can amend, change, and add to these laws.  As long as citizens are law-abiding, they can think, speak, and live as they see fit.
     Individuals can stay completely independent or join groups who encourage members to agree with their way of thinking, adding their own code of behavior.  Some groups are religious, some political.  As long as these groups uphold the laws of the land, as long as they allow others to have equal rights, they can promote their philosophies.
     Family members should encourage their youth to prepare themselves to be independent in thought, word, and deed.   Young adults should strive to be financially independent, emotionally strong, and able to think and make their own decisions.
     As a country, as individuals, and as family members, we should encourage freedom.  Celebrate independence every day of your life.