Certain people want to do things to make us need them, to convince us we will not be OK with out them or what they say we need.

It’s one thing to be of service to people, but it’s another to devise or create a need that makes people think they need you.

They want to be the only ones right…and that is wrong!!!

We all have to watch against this mindset. I have to watch and guard against this mindset.

If someone tries to make you think you cannot get along without them or you cannot do things without their help or advice, that is control and manipulation. Yes we need other people in our lives; we need the give and take and interplay of ideas between each other, but we do not want people taking advantage of us with a perceived need in whatever capacity that might be portrayed.

We have the responsibility not to allow others to control us and take away our own free will and ability to decide for ourselves.

Do I need to break free in any area of my life starting today?

Last night was Halloween. Our neighborhood has had a turnaround of homeowners the last several years. Something the neighborhood has done each year on Halloween is have a parade for everyone who wants to participate from young to old. Everyone dresses up if they like and walks around together for ‘show and tell’, and then the kids go house to house for trick or treat 🙂

It was so fun! Even though it rained almost the entire day and evening, people came out with their umbrellas and talked and laughed together…big kids, little kids, strollers, pets, they all came.

I manned the candy station first shift at our place. Stood under my umbrella, which covered me and the candy tray, and had so much fun meeting and talking to kids and parents that otherwise I’d never have had a chance to meet…commenting on their costumes or anything to strike up a tiny conversation with them.

We used Halloween as a perfect time to get acquainted, if only in a small way, to ‘break the ice’ and show some friendliness and care for our neighborhood.

Even the mailman and her daughter came dressed up. They live in the vicinity. I thought how fun it was for her daughter to see where her mother ‘works’.

It was a good day!

It is impossible to stop life!

Things may try and stunt it or thwart it, but life keeps living.

This world…this universe was set up for life…not death. You can see it all over. A flower blooms, a flower dies, but then another blooms again. Dirt gets covered with concrete and rubble, but over time green starts growing through the cracks and living anyway. Storms bring destruction, but they go away and the sun comes out, the trees stand up tall and the flowers bloom again. (think the recent hurricane)

Our bodies are made to live. They get sick, we nurture them and they heal. Fresh new cells are produced multiple times a day. Babies are born every day…the beginning of a new life.

Let’s forget about all the ‘what ifs’, and ‘but me’ and look at the overall picture–this world was made for life and we were made to live!!

There may be things in your life that have died, but new life can come again.

Our mind and thoughts may have given up hope for life, but Life says, “Choose to live again!”