Wednesday March 15 2017  NEEDS VERSES WANTS

Yesterday as my husband and I were proofing my blog he made a statement about a sentence I wrote.  The sentence was, “I finish the appointment earlier and have a longer day ahead of me to do what needs to be done.”  The operative word in this sentence is the word “needs”.  He suggested perhaps the sentence should read, “I finish the appointment earlier and have a longer day ahead of me to DO WHAT I WANT TO DO”.

I believe his slant on looking at what I “need” to do vs. what I “want” to do is quite different than mine.  I gave that some thought and came up with the following conclusion.  I believe it may seem to Dave that most activities I do is because I want to do them.  That is not quite the way I see things.  Example:  I enjoy cooking and therefore must want to do it.  I enjoy shopping for the food items I need so therefore must want to do it.  And the list goes on to encompass working on the album I’m working on as well as a sundry of other activities I do.  I certainly do look like I am enjoying myself so therefore doing these tasks seem to be things I want to do instead of things I need to do.  But, to me, they are tasks I NEED to do.  We need to eat healthy, so yes, I do put more time into shopping and cooking and so therefore it appears I want to do it.  I have a timeline on finishing the album so therefore I work on it every extra minute I have, and thus the appearance to others may be that I want to do it.

Needing and wanting are two separate entities.  We need to eat but there are many ways to get food; fast food for some, packages for others, nice restaurants are a choice, just as is choosing to buy groceries and cooking.  We NEED to eat so however we go about it is a necessity in the long run.  The food I prefer is home cooked.  So therefore, it is a NEED that I cook, even though to others it may appear I just ENJOY cooking and want to do it for the fun of doing it.  I long ago made up my mind to enjoy doing the things that NEED to be done.  So yes, Dave is correct in saying that I want to get an early start on my day so I can “do what I WANT to do”.  The thing is most tasks I do are because I NEED to do them; and I have chosen to enjoy the process.

The same goes for working on the photo album.  I made a commitment to my sister to create this album.  I certainly do enjoy working on the album, but because of the timeline in delivering the book, it is a task I MUST do with purpose and intent in order to fulfill my commitment.  Therefore it is a “need to do item”, which I enjoy doing.

It is so much more pleasurable to live in this world when we learn to enjoy all the musts that we need to accomplish.  I did not take Dave’s comment as criticism; rather as a different perspective.  If I look and act like I enjoy something (as I do when cooking or working on the album), then it is easy to understand his point of view.  But are there times I would rather not cook?  Absolutely! 

Because I live in the moment I choose to enjoy whatever it is that I must do in the moment I’m living.  And I choose to do it cheerfully.  And all the NEEDS I must do… become what I enjoy doing.  So, maybe Dave’s comment was correct.  I want to get an early start on my day so I can do what I want to do.

It is almost 8:00 a.m. at this phase of writing this blog.  This blog won’t be published until later today after Dave and I can proof it.  And today is one of those days “I want to do what I want to do”.  And I’ve already started.  I have interrupted my writing three times to go upstairs and check on a rice dish I have simmering on the stove to make sure it is cooked to perfection.  I just made the last run and turned off the burner.  Once I finish at the computer I will go upstairs, eat breakfast, and cook all day long (or at least as long as my recovering back injury will allow).  Do I need to cook, probably not if you count all the other foods already available to eat in the fridge, but I am having dinner guests Friday and I am preparing what must be prepared ahead.  So, I suppose I am doing what I want because it is my desire to have company over. 

Think about the things you detest doing but which must be done to make life tidy, safe, healthy, and workable.  Even if you do not enjoy doing them, the next time you find yourself begrudging the time you spend in accomplishing them, stop and think about all the things in your life for which you can give thanks.  You may have the need to cook.  You may not like to cook.  Instead of cooking with a gripe in your heart look at the food and thank God that you have this food to eat.  Thank God that you are healthy enough to stand up and walk and able to do whatever task that needs to be done.  Whatever the task, be thankful you aren’t bedridden or fighting a terminal illness, and the or…or…ors… can go on and on.  Have a thankful heart for all you can do, for all you have to eat, for the toilet you flush, for the water coming out of the shower you must later clean, for the clothes you wash and dry and fold.  Your thanks will give you a grateful heart.  Your grateful heart may put joy into what needs to be done and turn your MUSTS into the “want to’s” you look forward to accomplishing. 

Dave’s right!  I do “WANT TO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO” !  Because whatever NEEDS to be done, I WANT to do it!

WANT TO DO

Kathleen Martens

March 15, 2017

http://www.visionsofpoetry.com

Today is a day of cooking

Preparing for my guests.

Creating delicious food

And “doing” until I need to rest.

And when one task is over

I’ll do something more,

And before the company comes

I’ll even sweep the floor.

Doing is what I like to do

Regardless the task at hand.

If it needs to be done

My attitude is in my command.

I can choose how to approach

The demands that greet my day.

Happy heart or begrudgingly,

Soar, or trudge my way.

So I choose to “want to do”,

The path that lies ahead

Later, I’ll have time to rest,

After I am dead.

Thank You God for Your provision of energy.

Thank You God for the joy You place in my heart.

Thank You Father that You provide food for my table and enough to share with others.

GOD BLESS YOU THIS DAY. 

LOOK AROUND AND FIND 10 THINGS FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL.