LIFE IS A SERIES OF CHOICES

There are good and bad choices, made constantly; right and wrong ones; helpful and destructive ones, as well. We must make choices on whatever data we have at the time. That data is often not enough to make an educated choice, in which case, we must guess. Our life and the consequence of that choice to others, is as predictable as the flip of a coin or a roll of the dice.

Choices have Categorical (influenced by issues of morality in certain duties and rights) and Consequentialist (morality is in the consequences of an act)...in other words, most acts do not affect a single person but that effect covers many with its reverberations.

What, then, happens when we refuse to make a choice. Sometimes an issue just fades away, but don't count on it as few things aren't followed up. Forgetting to drink responsibly, then driving drunk so that someone is killed by you in an 'accident' and the consequences are far reaching, changing the future of many lives. If that person (as is most likely) has family, children, parents, dependents and responsibilities to many, the resulting destruction of that act is felt by all those whose lives are altered, remaining lifetimes for many of those people. Few effects from bad choices have only a short-term consequence.

War makes many orphans. What happens to them in their growing up may turn a generation of youth, as in Iraq, into haters seeking vengeance and having no trust for adults or certain groups...especially Americans, the enemy during and after the war. When people leave their choices to trust God, they've totally thrown their control away and left all those connected to them swinging in the wind.

What most people miss is that laws pose an involuntary choice of action. Many people who naturally fight that imposition, missing the whole point of the law, are looking for independence. That is not how maturity and independence are gained. The generation of the 60s and 70s, adolescents who sat in their basements tuned out on marijuana never did the developmental work needed for a normal adolescent. Now these people may have important positions, families, and we wonder why such poor life choices are being made in such a public way.

Healthy coping mechanisms should be taught in grade school and through college. The way to think through choices should be a part of that. Morality considerations should be a foundation. I do not mean morality as the Bible writes it but, rather as our current life style and set of laws dictates morality which is not limit to sexual morality. Instead, I mean morality as our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution define it.

CHOICES

"Scientists have shown off an effect not unlike that of the "phasers" in the show Star Trek - but it only works on tiny worms called nematodes.

They used a special molecule that, when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, changes its shape. When the worms were fed this molecule and then exposed to UV light, they exhibited paralysis. But when the worms were again exposed to visible light, they regained their ability to move. "

The work is published in Journal of the American Chemical Society. To read the entire BBC article, click here.

It brings up the subject of research (not related to the above article) and how permission is granted. Like the imperative for witches, first 'No harm shall be done'. That, of course, is not easily determined. When a researcher has not followed protocol and all the rules, the research is suspended, or worse, terminated. However, despite the researcher's poor following of rules, if no harm came to any of the subjects, should the researcher be 'punished' by not allowing final data to be worked on even if it means publishing and reputation building for the researcher. This assumes that the actual research itself followed its protocol and problems were within the researcher only. The desire to punish bad behavior and stop all the researcher's work is very strong but we must keep in mind that the purpose of research is to make useful, scientific findings. If a researcher personally benefits as well, that is a nice peripheral gain for the researcher.

The choices in life are many. Taking and making choices has more or less risk as determined by the odds. For example, lotteries carry greater odds and generally yield more financial gain. Most choices don't involve instant gains, as with lotteries. Those unable to do research and follow trends are apt to miss out on when to make that choice. As refrigerators became popular, the ice man who quickly changed careers might have made a good choice.

Unfortunately, it is in human nature for many to wait until there is no alternative, forced to make a choice. Equally unfortunate is that, by that time, the choices are far more limited because those better at seeing the future trends had already made choices. If you have trouble making up your mind, lots of choices shut down and are no longer available to you. If you choose too quickly, without weighing all the pros and cons, you are equally in trouble. It boils down to life is not easy...choose carefully and well every time a choice is open to you and maximize your finances, professional and emotional life, or anything else that can have meaning for you!

We have choices about whether to take care of our bodies and perhaps live longer; choices about who we have as friends, choices about careers to pursue, and constant choices far too numerous to try to mention.