Common Sense

Have you wondered where the common sense has gone in this country today? I have.
I remember my parents telling me – and now me telling my kids – “Just use common sense.” How I wish I could tell that to the people in this country – and especially the politicians. I doubt most of them even know what it is.

How would you define common sense? As I try to come up with a logical definition, it’s harder than it seems. After all – it’s just common sense! You do it because it is logical and it just makes sense. Whether it is financial, personal, political, in any area of your life – just use common sense. There. Did that make any sense to you?

I ran across this the other day on a blog I enjoy, which made me think about “Common Sense”. I just have to share it with you.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by:

his parents, Truth and Trust

by his wife, Discretion

by his daughter, Responsibility

and by his son, Reason

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

~Author Unknown

How true this is. Now - can all of you out there please use Common Sense in your life.

Maybe we can all help to resurrect it.

A Confession

I have something to confess to. Now I know this will shock and distress many of you, but I just have to say it. Okay…here goes…..I hate housework! There – it’s said. I feel better now.

Housecleaning was never a priority in my home while growing up. I love my mom and she has many - many wonderful qualities, but she never taught me how to clean. She never stood by my side and showed me how to clean a toilet, scrub the floors, or anything else. And let me say – I am paying for it now. What I know about cleaning, I have pretty much taught myself or asked other people questions about cleaning tips. I am a work in progress in becoming a cleaning fanatic. I doubt I’ll ever get to that point – but I’m working on it.

My goal as a mother: teach my kids to clean so that they will be much better at it than I.
I have tried to stand by their side and show them some of the tips I have learned over the years. I’m finding it sometimes takes standing by their side many times over. I am persistent though. They will learn, even if it kills me or them. And let me say, they think it is killing them. Here’s to survival!

The Lost Art of Communication

E-mail, texting, blogs, facebook – are all relatively new, faster, and easier ways to communicate. However, are they better? Joseph Priestly said many, many years ago, “The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.”

I remember a few years ago one of the commercials on TV said “Reach out and touch someone.” They were talking about communication. Have you “reached out and touched someone” lately? I’m not talking about e-mail, texting, blogs or facebook.

All of my older kids have cell phones. I was thinking that it would be easier to keep in contact with them now. In some ways it is, but in other ways our communication has lost its personal touch. Most times I can call, and call, and call and receive no answer. However, if I text – more often then not they will text back. It’s a short communication and a very impersonal way of communicating. Yet it seems to be the way that our one on one communication will be in the future. Some kids with cell phones have 6000, 8000, or even more than 10,000 texts a month. Where is the “reaching out and touching someone” in this type of communication? Kristi attends a school for advanced and gifted students – students who are dedicated to their learning. One of her classmates got her first cell phone. She was texting so much, including school hours that hergrades went from A’s to failing. Her dedication to learning stopped when she got her phone. Her phone was gone when her parents saw her grades and texting bill! I would get texts from my kids during class time, which didn't make me happy. Doug has teased Mikel that she will be asked through texting for her hand in marriage – and she will text back her answer. Extreme – maybe, but with the impersonal form of communication today it doesn’t sound so far-fetched.

I came across another quote, this one by Anthony Robbins. He said “The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives.” I would like to add to the end of that “the quality of our lives” with our family and friends. Getting a text, reading a blog, seeing it on facebook, does not get the same personal touch as a phone call or a visit. By reading something you can’t hear the excitement, disappoint, fear, or any other emotion in their voice as you can by actually talking to them. And in return, they can’t hear the emotional response back if it is only read. Yes, you can have those exclamation points on the blog or facebook, but it isn’t the same. There is a reason the church has guidelines in place for visiting teaching, in making sure you have a personal visit once every three months. Sending a card or calling all the time cannot give you that bond you need to have with those whom you teach. You can’t develop a personal relationship if you just send a card or letter all the time. It is the same with your relationship with the Lord. You can’t have one if you aren’t talking to him. Just like with family and friends. You can’t have that personal relationship if you are only doing the impersonal ways of communication. It has to go both ways too – each of the parties reaching out and taking the time to talk or have a visit. Not every day or every week, but on a regular basis. Reach out when you have that news, good or bad. Most people have cell phones which make long distance calling affordable – and you can call from most anywhere. When we moved to Mesa, we only had the regular long distance yet Doug and I made it a priority to call our parents as much as possible, as our money would allow. Reaching out – making the personal touch means a lot. It keeps families and friendships together. It bonds you together. It helps determine the quality of our lives as families and friends. Go ahead – reach out and touch someone today. I will be.

Pondering and Wondering Thoughts

I have been thinking about doing a blog like this for a month or two. In fact, I have had a few ideas for my first posts. Whether anyone is interested or not in what I have to write, well, let's say it is for me more than anything else.

I have always enjoyed writing. However, for quite a few years I haven't done hardly any at all. I guess this is my way to get back into it. If you like what I have to say - let me know. If you don't , you can let me know that too.

These are my thoughts and my opinions. You don't have to agree with me. You have your own thoughts and your own opinions. That's what makes us different.