FOR WHAT DO YOU CARE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS -DAY 141

Do you know any children whose parents don't really care about them?  Have you met a teenager who has never known what it is like to be cared for and treated well?  A lot of kids who get into gangs are lured to join by the idea that they will have a family or people who will care about them.  Of course, they are too naive or too frightened to realize that the caring they may receive comes with a high price as more and more is demanded of them.

Do you know any people who have pets but do not provide proper care for them?  Do you know any pet owners who are actually mean to their pets?  The shelters are full of dogs whose owners did not care about them.

Do you know people who are fortunate to have jobs today but who do not care about their jobs?  Do you know people who are interested only in a paycheck and not in doing the best work they are capable of doing?

The poor quality of the labor market, the problems with bullying in schools, the large number of animals who have to be put down, the poor performance of our schools, and the ever increasing crime rates are all indicative of people not caring.  What is part of the solution?

CARE MORE!

HAVE YOU LOST YOUR CURIOSITY? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 56

There are so many wonderful things about children whether they are babies, toddlers, or school-age.  One of the best things about them is their curiosity.  They cannot resist exploring, reaching, touching, or questioning any new thing that comes into their line of sight.  Think of how much children learn in the first three years of their lives.  If they went on to continue to learn as much in each future three-year segment they would all be absolutely amazing.

Unfortunately, some children and many adults lose their curiosity and their quest for knowledge.  Whether it is bad schools, bad parenting, poverty of resources, poor self-esteem, lack of support systems, or some verbal wound inflicted by a parent, sibling or teacher something definitely turns them off of learning.  If that has happened to you, it is not too late to change.   For children either Public Libraries, the Internet, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Churches, or grandparents there are ways to re-stimulate your curiosity about anything that might interest you OR to find out what does interest you.  If you are an adult you have even more access to information through libraries, the Internet, community colleges, vocational education, informational interviews, community groups, churches, and various non-profit groups.  It is up to you to ask questions, get answers, and keep on learning your entire life.

Today's message is:

BE INQUISITIVE!