DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS NECESSARY VERSUS WHAT IS DESIRABLE? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 68

The basics all humans need are food, water,shelter, and clothing  All else are things we want, and over time we have become a society of consumers.  Somehow we allow our wants to become needs.  We no longer base our spending decisions on what is necessary versus what is desirable, and this change has led thousands of people into major credit card debt.  If you are one of those people, then perhaps it is time for you to take a step back, survey all that you have, question all that you feel you are "missing", and determine if those things are truly essential or just things it might be nice to have.

While there are millions of people suffering from horrific poverty, lack of clean water, and insufficient nutrition there are millions of us who are much more fortunate.  Rarely do we have everything we want, but usually we have everything we need.

Today's message is:

I HAVE WHAT I NEED!

DO YOU CARE ABOUT OUR PLANET? CHANGING YOUR LIFE WITH WORDS - DAY 20

Look around you.  I don't know what city or country you live in or what sort of neighborhood, but are you pleased with what you see?  Are you and your neighbors taking good care of your individual areas be they apartments or houses, located in cities or rural areas, situated in wealthy, modest, or poor neighborhoods?

Our planet does not have unlimited natural resources, and in many locations we humans have created blight on the earth by not properly maintaining what we have.  Do you see lots of litter and trash?  Is water being wasted?  Are hazardous materials being disposed of improperly?  Do you recycle as much as possible?  Are you thoughtful about how much gas or electricity you are using?  Do you get involved with decisions being made in your area about land use and property development?  Do you care about the rain forest?  Do you even know what it is or why it is important?  Do you believe in climate change?

Are you doing the obvious things like cleaning up after yourselves and teaching your children and grandchildren to do the same?  Are you careful about what your put in your trashcan or pour down your drains?  Do you have low flow shower heads and faucets?  Do you have low flush toilets?  Do you over water your lawns and plants?  Do you have water leaks in need of repair?  Do you live in an area where power outages make life miserable in the heat of summer or the cold of winter?

We are all responsible for the condition of the planet and for the proper stewardship of our natural resources.  We have an obligation to teach our children and grandchildren to respect the planet and to do their part to care for it, to take only what they need from it, and to be cognizant of ways to improve how they do their part.  Rich or poor, old or young, each of us can do something.

Today's message is:

Take (use) only what I need.