"Mr. and Mrs. Thing are a pleasant and successful couple. At least, that's the verdict of people who measure success with a 'thingometer.' When the 'thingometer' is put to work in the life of Mr. and Mrs. Thing, the result is startling.

"There he is, sitting on a luxurious, expensive thing, almost hidden by a large number of other things. Things to sit on, things to cook on and things to eat from, all shiny and new. Things, things, things.

"Things to clean with and wash with. Things to clean and things to wash. Things to amuse and things to give pleasure. Things to watch and things to play. Things for the long, hot summer and things for the short, cold winter. Things for the big thing in which they live and things for the garden. Things for the kitchen and things for the bedroom. Things on four wheels and things on two wheels and things to put on top of the four wheels and things to pull behind the four wheels. Things, things, things.

"And there in the middle are Mr. and Mrs. Thing, smiling and pleased as punch with things, thinking of more things to add to things. Secure in their castle of things.

"Well, I just want you to know that your things can't last. They're going to pass. There's going to be an end to them. Oh, maybe an error in judgment, maybe a temporary loss of concentration, or maybe you'll just pass them off to the secondhand thing dealer. Or maybe they'll wind up a mass, mangled metal being towed off to the thing yard.

"And what about all the things in your house? Well, it's time for bed, so make sure you lock the door to make sure some thing taker doesn't come and take your things. And that's the way life goes, doesn't it? And someday, when you die, they only put one thing in the box: you." — Anonymous

See you at the top!

Friend or Enemy?

According to my dictionary, a "friend" is "one who is attached to another by affection; one who entertains for another sentiments of esteem; one not hostile; one who has sufficient interest to serve another."

The dictionary also says that an "enemy" is "a foe and adversary, one who hates another and wishes him injury." To these two definitions, I would like to add my own thought. I believe a friend is someone who, knowingly or unknowingly, intentionally or unintentionally, takes action that, in the long run, brings joy and/or benefits of some kind. For example, many salespeople consider competitors who take their customers to be anything but friends. It's true that temporarily they might have done some damage, but if those salespeople would find out why business was lost to competitors, they can make needed changes. If they take that approach, the "enemies" have rendered them a real service, and actually, their business will increase over the long haul.

Unfortunately, some students don't want go to school and, in some cases, even view their teachers as "enemies." However, a moment's thought would help the students realize that the teachers' jobs are dependent upon their effectiveness in the classroom. Instead of being enemies, teachers, in the teaching and correcting process, can be the best friends the students ever had.

Most of us prefer someone who is friendly and says nice things to and about us. However, I candidly will confess to you that when I receive either verbal or written criticism, I might not appreciate it at the moment, but in many cases, the critic turns out to be more of a friend than the person who praises. So think about it, properly evaluate each incident, and I'll lay odds that you will realize they really are friends. Take the "friends" approach, and I'll see you at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. Subscribe to Zig Ziglar's free e-mail newsletter through info@zigziglar.com.

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