Life

Life is just a funny thing when you think about it. When you are young you do not give a thought to this, well other than saying "I can't wait to be older". Being young is fun, exciting, adventurous, experimental, learning and living life to the fullest. You do not have a care in the world. It is all about finding new things and having fun.

Then you finally reach the age of 18 that you couldn't wait to get to and what does this mean? It means you are a grown up and I use that term lightly. Now you have to have more school in college or go out into the world and get a job and make a living. Of course you don't understand that yet, you just do it because that it what your parents say you have to do. But your education is important so you go. Your parents truly do know best.

So out into the world you go full of excitement. You go to college and have those college fun years, get your degree and then find a job. Now you are an adult and think "what fun is this?" I have to get up at the crack of dawn, go to work and then come home. You get home and then you work some more in your house or yard. Does the madness end? Yes, on Friday when you are done for the day at work until Sunday night. That is your time of fun and silliness.

Before you know it you meet someone, fall in love, get married, have children and now are back home while your husband works. If you put your children in daycare, you are not raising them when it is crucial, other people are. Is this the right route to follow? No, don't do it. Keep on working and get your car, house and all you want first. Don't be in such a hurry to have children and stay home. You now added more work than working, but you don't know it.

Your children are getting older and are now all in school. So you think, cool, I am going back to work now. So off you go to find that perfect job. You work all day, come home from work to be bombarded by your children and spend time with them as they tell you about their day at school, then start cooking for supper. The children start to argue over what tv show they will watch. You handle it in a polite fair way so all are content. You sit down for your meal and your husband and children chat about their life. Supper is over, you do all the dishes, pick up the house from clothing thrown on the floor and then sit with the children while they watch tv for awhile before it is time for bed. Now it is 8 p.m. and you and your children go upstairs to get ready for bedtime and get on their pajamas. You tuck them all in, read each one a bedtime story, kiss them goodnight and back downstairs you go. You now get some of the quiet of the day and spend some of that quality time with your husband and then off to bed you go by 9:30 p.m.

The next day you do the same thing, Monday to Friday that is your life, well unless you find a babysitter to watch the children so you and hubby can go out and do what ever. It costs you money to leave the house without the children to pay for the babysitter, well unless you are lucy enough to have family and friends who will do it for nothing.

Now the children are grown and they start to begin their adult life. They have moved out of your house and you are sad and yet happy. It is when the youngest one leaves that you may have that empty nest syndrome. But now can have your house beautiful with no spills or dishes in the sink and it becomes a nice paradise for you when you retreat back to it after work. Yes, you are still working. But now you get to come home to clean environment and don't have to cook if you don't want to. There is no arguing, no fighting, no clothes on the floor and just a nice home that is picked up with no dishes in the sink.

You get to start a new life so to speak, in a new, clean home. A few years pass, all the children you think are doing well and then BAM, one comes home and you are right back to where you used to be. They naturally think you will pick up everything like you did when they were little. A year later off he goes again. There is always one that returns, only one if you are lucky. LOL

Your children get married, have a life, and then you become a grandparent. This is the best part of life. Being a grandmother is the best thing that every happened to me in life. I can not tell you the joy it brings. You love your children, but this is even better. It is different and yet better and you can't put your fingers on why. All you know is that when you see their little face every day it brings you happiness and makes you smile.

Now you are just at that age where your parents are very old, people you know are dying or have ailments. So you finally reach the age you love and yet part of it, you just don't love. You loose your gall bladder, your hair turns white, you feel tired all the time, but you go to work and you are in search of paradise. So what is life all about?

Learning, living and loving is my conclusion. Have fun everywhere you are, wether you are at work, or home or in the car. Love the best way you can and find a way to find that paradise. Is it in your backyard? Yes, you just make your own paradise. I would love to win a lottery, move to an island paradise, but until that happens, I have made my backyard my paradise for myself and my grandchildren. Why? Having them is my favorite part of life. I love to teach them, play with them and educate them to the world and all it has. You never want to loose that "KID" part of you. Keep the silliness you have and don't be such a stickler for perfection. There is no such thing. Fun love is what it is all about. Life is to short to argue, fight, cause problems or otherwise. Ok, so you lost a part, your hair is white, your house isn't perfect, but you know what you have? Love, that is what you have. You have people all around you that love you for you. Love is one of the most important thing in life. Don't abuse it. If you love someone show them kindness all the time, give them a hug, call them and tell them. Yes, Love is the key.

You house is still clean and neat, but gets messy and you still are picking it up. All the children are happy, you are happy, the animals are happy and you all get to retreat to your paradise in the backyard and have a BBQ. This is the life and now all you need is a margarita and whalah! Happiness is all around you so enjoy it.

As I have taught my two young grandchildren; "you have two roads to choose from, the HIGH road or the LOW road." This means the HIGH road will take you to a place you will be happy. You will be neat and organized because you need it in life. For example: you don't argue, you discuss being calm. You don't scream and have a temper tantrum, or be mean to someone, you instead take a breath, walk away and return. You don't destroy your bedroom thinking someone will clean it, you instead clean it yourself,

The LOW road however is the opposite, you are never calm, you want everything now, you have no patience and you just plain and simply, want your way all the time and your life and bedroom is in disarray. So now, when either of my two grandchildren gets upset with the other, they each tell eachother to take the HIGH road. It works very well.

My conclustion is to be happy, be healthy and love to the fullest. Laugh at yourself! How can you not? This is what life is all about. The highs the lows, the ups and the downs. You just need to try and find a way to be happy and love. Show kindness to everyone, show compassion to everything and love to the fullest potential. You can do it! You just find what brings a smile to your face. For me it is my grandchilren. They are the sparkle in my eyes. So go for it! What do you have to loose? Time is precious so make use of it wisely. Be neat, organized, kind, laugh, love, do what you enjoy before there is not time left. Have fun!