Weeds

     Weeds are part of nature just like flowers and vegetables, but we see them as unplanned, unwanted, unattractive, and bothersome.  They seem so persistent and reappear even with our best efforts of control.
     Other types of weeds pop up and distract us from the beauty of life.  We try to plan and be ready for what happens within ourselves and between ourselves and others, but much is beyond our control.  Weeds happen.  If only we could pull them out and discard them from our memory, we would get a better view of our beautiful garden.

Personal Economics

 1.  Get an education and training while you are young to qualify for employment.
 2.  Add experience and continue to update your skills.
 3.  Increase your flexibility to qualify for more than one kind of work.
 4.  Save and invest part of your salary.
 5.  Get health insurance and participate in a pension plan through your employer or independently.
 6.  Only have children when you can afford them.
 7.  Live simply and be frugal until you can afford more.
 8.  Realize that the cost of almost everything will increase.
 9.  Only go into debt when absolutely necessary.
10.  Be independent.  Don't expect someone else or the government to solve your economic problems.

Labor Day

     Labor is usually thought of as work done for monetary compensation.  We all appreciate people who work for a living so their families are supplied with basic needs.  Most people want to work, hopefully at something that is satisfying, but if not, at something that pays the bills and creates a feeling of accomplishment of earning your own way. No one wants to be unemployed, worrying about the bills stacking up.
     Another type of labor is not compensated with wages but is a labor for life.  Everyone has a mother who went through pregnancy, labor, and childbirth, and then cared for us during our early years.  Today many mothers go through both kinds of labor, one that creates a child and one that provides a paycheck.  Fathers also labor at work and at home.
     Thank you for all the work you do especially for the labors of love.  Here's hoping the unemployed will soon obtain work and have more to celebrate next Labor Day.

Rain

     Rain is a natural phenomenon that only becomes dangerous when the human element is added.  We label it good when it comes to our gardens, farms, and parched landscapes.  We sometimes label it bad when we have chosen to live in flood-prone areas like along the coast or near rivers and especially in areas like New Orleans, built below sea level, protected by levies and pump systems that remove water from our streets, neighborhoods, and canals.  We like rain until too much comes in a short period of time.
     All weather is part of nature whether we like it or not.  The earth and universe existed way before we began to walk around.  Nature can be very dangerous and life-threatening to us, but we need to appreciate the total picture, not just the one we view from our own civilized part of the world.

"Everything happens..."

You often hear "Everything happens for a reason," but this is not a grownup thought.  What we label as good or bad happens because of the laws of nature.  Natural disasters, accidents from human error and mechanical malfunction, birth defects, and criminal and immoral behavior, all have a cause but are not part of a master plan.   Bad things do not happen in order for us to learn lessons, although lessons may be learned.  We have to learn to live with the unexplained and the unknown.  Everything that happens has a cause but not a reason.

Out of Control?

     Grownups want to be able to control themselves as much as possible, but even with a healthy lifestyle, our bodies at times get sick, weaken, and continue to age.    Hopefully we recover from illness,  maintain physical health, and adjust to the effects of aging.
     Controlling our emotional state is another facet of being grownup.  Personality and temperament may sometimes limit this control, but we can learn to curb impulses, temper, and other immature behaviors.  Often we see others being self-centered, rude, and having temper outbursts that some people explain away as sensitivity or passion or that someone else is to blame for eliciting the behavior.  When we ourselves start to lose emotional control, we need to put things into perspective and express ourselves in a grownup manner so that our feelings are addressed but don't overpower good sense.

Behavior

Grownup thoughts should lead to grownup behavior.
1. Do what is best for yourself.
2. Consider the welfare of others.
3. Plan and prepare for the future.
4. Be thankful to others for their help.
5. Realize that imperfection is normal.
6. Forgive yourself and others for mistakes.
7. Be flexible when the unexpected happens.
8. Live a healthy life.