Every body's looking for a bargain these days. People buy there meat at one store because it's 6 cents cheaper than another store. We buy no name brand cleaners cause the real stuff is just to expensive, and who really wants the cleanest house anyway. Car dealers inflate the prices of their cars because they know the buyer is looking for a big discount just for them. At garage sales if something is marked for 50 cents we tell the junk collector we only want to pay a quarter. We want the most we can get for the least we have to put out. If the lady at the yard sale won't come down to a quarter then her stuff is just junk. If the clerk at the Best Buy doesn't say we are getting the biggest, baddest, loudest, most advanced TV for the lowest price, then he isn't qualified to sell electronics.
Sadly this philosophy is now being applied to our lives. It comes in the form of the very childish question, "Do I have to?". We want to do the least we can in life and still get by. We sign a mortgage that has payments due on the first, but the first thing we ask is when is the last day I "have to" pay it. We land our dream job that starts at 7 am but we want to know what is the latest time I "have to" be here. We bring children into this world and we don't necessarily "have to" pour our lives into them. Little Johnny will learn from the government supplied education system, why should I teach him anything if I don't "have to"? I've worked all my life to save up and build my dream house that should be good enough. I shouldn't "have to" clean it! I don't "have to" clean the floors, but in a short amount of time my carpets are ruined from stains. I don't "have to" change the oil in my truck, but in a few thousand miles my engine is seized up because the oil is burnt and can no longer keep it cool. I don't "have to" instill values, integrity courage, and morals into my Sons, but someone will and I'll be upset by their loyalty to that person. All I "have to" do is pay my bills. I don't "have to" save money for a rainy day, but when the flood comes I'll be helpless and at the mercy of others. I don't "have to" listen to my wife ramble on about all her feelings, but if I don't someone will. As the head of my house, I don't "have to" take the time to speak encouragement, set goals, or work on uniting my family. But if I don't they will find something else to be their guiding star. Kennedy didn't "have to" put a man on the moon. Edison didn't "have to" invent electricity. Lenoir didn't "have to" invent the combustion engine. And Gates didn't "have to" revolutionize software.
It may be rude and ugly of me, but I think people who are always asking for the "have to" of life just as soon carry around a sign saying "I'm lazy and I have no ambition in life". A life lived by just the bare minimum of "have to"s is a life devoid of purpose. At the end of this very short life do you really want to be know as the guy that did just enough to survive? Your success in this life is directly proportional to the amount of effort you do that is above and beyond the "have to". When your children reminisce about their childhood it will be filled with the memories of the things you did for them that you didn't "have to". What empty memories await kids raised in a house where only the "have to" was done. Take the time to do things to the best of your abilities, not just the minimum needed. Take the time to put forth effort into the lives of your family and your friends. Break the chains of "have to" and be someone who sets the standard for beyond the need. Don't be defined by the minimalist concept of "have to". Create your own destiny and legacy that makes you unique in a world of conformity.
Sadly this philosophy is now being applied to our lives. It comes in the form of the very childish question, "Do I have to?". We want to do the least we can in life and still get by. We sign a mortgage that has payments due on the first, but the first thing we ask is when is the last day I "have to" pay it. We land our dream job that starts at 7 am but we want to know what is the latest time I "have to" be here. We bring children into this world and we don't necessarily "have to" pour our lives into them. Little Johnny will learn from the government supplied education system, why should I teach him anything if I don't "have to"? I've worked all my life to save up and build my dream house that should be good enough. I shouldn't "have to" clean it! I don't "have to" clean the floors, but in a short amount of time my carpets are ruined from stains. I don't "have to" change the oil in my truck, but in a few thousand miles my engine is seized up because the oil is burnt and can no longer keep it cool. I don't "have to" instill values, integrity courage, and morals into my Sons, but someone will and I'll be upset by their loyalty to that person. All I "have to" do is pay my bills. I don't "have to" save money for a rainy day, but when the flood comes I'll be helpless and at the mercy of others. I don't "have to" listen to my wife ramble on about all her feelings, but if I don't someone will. As the head of my house, I don't "have to" take the time to speak encouragement, set goals, or work on uniting my family. But if I don't they will find something else to be their guiding star. Kennedy didn't "have to" put a man on the moon. Edison didn't "have to" invent electricity. Lenoir didn't "have to" invent the combustion engine. And Gates didn't "have to" revolutionize software.
It may be rude and ugly of me, but I think people who are always asking for the "have to" of life just as soon carry around a sign saying "I'm lazy and I have no ambition in life". A life lived by just the bare minimum of "have to"s is a life devoid of purpose. At the end of this very short life do you really want to be know as the guy that did just enough to survive? Your success in this life is directly proportional to the amount of effort you do that is above and beyond the "have to". When your children reminisce about their childhood it will be filled with the memories of the things you did for them that you didn't "have to". What empty memories await kids raised in a house where only the "have to" was done. Take the time to do things to the best of your abilities, not just the minimum needed. Take the time to put forth effort into the lives of your family and your friends. Break the chains of "have to" and be someone who sets the standard for beyond the need. Don't be defined by the minimalist concept of "have to". Create your own destiny and legacy that makes you unique in a world of conformity.
When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.Helen Keller
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