Here's what you can look forward to An A-to-Z Mentality It offers something different-a twist on the many literary options that are out there today. Author Rodney Etheridge presents a simple read that touches on facts, life experiences, personal opinions, and views of common, everyday words and phrases using the letters of the alphabet. He seeks to touch and connect with everyone on a personal and or realistic level.

An A-to-Z Mentality

By Rod Knee

Abbott Press

Copyright © 2012 Rod Knee
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4582-0725-8

Chapter One

Alcohol

What is alcohol? I know it is a beverage, that is a given, but what is it? What is it about alcohol that drives people insane? Some may not agree but it is a drug, a controlled substance. But is it bad for you? Nothing is wrong with alcohol it self, it is the abuse of it that makes is so wrong. It makes a lot of people feel jolly and happy. Some people, it gives them nerves of steel. Some people, it relaxes them. I myself, I couldn't tell you how it makes me feel. On top of that I can not stand it. To each his own, but it is definitely not my cup of tea. I have seen it turn a person who loves another into a punching bag, Ever since that day I could never understand how a beverage could change a person inside out. It looks no different than any other drink. It does have a distinct smell. But it looks harmless. Millions of people can not live without it in their lives. Some have no recollection of its effects, yet they still urn for it. Others get so sick they pray to the porcelain God asking for the night to end and if they can make it through the horrible feeling they are going through. Asking for the hangover to cease, and when the dust settles and the smoke clears, that alcohol is back in their hand quenching their thirst! I am not sitting here to down talk or condemn alcohol. The drink it self is no more than that, a drink, a beverage. Some people can handle a little, while others can bathe in it. It effects everyone differently, but when most people want to have a good time, alcohol is the treat they reach for. Why, I will never know. Some of the same things people do with alcohol, is just as much fun with out alcohol. Maybe some people use alcohol to release their inner demons or alter egos.

Chapter Two

Blessings

Blessings, everyone has them. A lot of people don't believe in God and

Accept blessings. A lot of people prefer to believe in luck or coincidence.

A lot of people can not grasp the concept of a God, or a supreme being, which Created us and loves us, and showers us with blessings! I am not here to preach Or try and convert anyone. But I do want to say that blessings are true gifts. Blessings have no set standard,, shape, or size. What I mean by that is if you Were to steal a car, and then steal a grape, stealing is stealing. A blessing is The same, a blessing is a blessing. You can not judge it by simplicity or Complexicity. If you did you would over look a lot of blessings. Everyone Is quick to acknowledge the big ones, such as a job promotion, walking away from a car crash, or a train wreck, or surviving cancer. I believe one of the most obvious blessings that is most overlooked is just waking up everyday to be able to see a new day here on earth. People either don't recognize them, or refuse to acknowledge them. The neigh sayers or those who don't believe are quick to try and disprove any notion of such behavior. They believe they control their own destiny or fate. Others try and use science to rule judgment over these matters and beliefs. But I believe even the neigh sayers have doubt over their own discontent at times, because the blessings can be so great they go beyond our reason and understanding. Even in times of despair and tragedy, blessings take place. How you might ask, lets say you have a drunk driver who gets in an accident, hospitalizes everyone involved in the accident. One person is paralyzed, the others are badly injured. You would probably say what blessing can come from that, I would say life! No one lost their life. To be able to see another day, spend time with family, friends and love ones. Enjoy walks in the park one more time, go to your favorite restaurant, hug your aunt, mother, or kids one more time. Those are all blessings. We take a lot of blessings for granted. But make no mistake; they are what they are, blessings! There was a time when I believed in luck. I found money or I may have won a raffle or a door prize. If I got a cute girls phone number, maybe, but to say that I or someone else was lucky they didn't get shot, or they didn't drown, that is not luck. Especially when someone gets shot, but the bullet misses all major organs by mere inches. I am sorry I do not believe that is luck. Nothing wrong with being blessed, it is a beautiful thing. Whether you believe in blessings or not, they are gifts that we receive each and every day. We should cherish them and be thankful!

Chapter Three

Choices

There is a saying "The only things guaranteed in life are Death and Taxes". Now that may be true to a certain extent. Choices are also guaranteed in life. When you really think about it, that is, what life boils down to, it is Choices! Oh, you don't think so? Well hear me out. I understand as a baby this principle does not apply, or does it? Now if we are aware of the choices we are making, that is a whole different story, but choices none the least. I don't care what you do in life; it all comes down to making choices. Some choices may be easier than others, while some choices are more difficult. The end result is a choice. I have rambled on enough. Now I will let you see the picture I am trying to paint. The alarm clock goes off, you have a choice, let it ring or cut it off. It is time for you to go to work, you either get ready for work, or you don't. Someone calls your phone, you either answer your phone or you don't. Granted, there are millions of choices you may have to make each day. One choice may lead you to a whole different set of choices, but that is what makes up life. I know it sounds easy, we make it difficult, but it is really just that simple. We make life way more complicated than it has to be. A lot of times, emotions, feelings and other factors get involved in situations in our life, but the end result is a choice to be made. If you are in a relationship, let's say for 5 years, you are truly in love with this person. After 5 years you find out this person whom you are deeply in love with has been cheating on you for the last year. What do you do? Some people would say break up, some would say try and work it out. Others may say they would want or try to fight the person because of the hurt they may have caused or sense of betrayal. There are many scenarios to CHOOSE from! There is no set pattern to how to live. Everyone is different and unique. Free will allows us to make our own choices in life. If you take a million people, all with the same goal in life, lets say to be a doctor. There may be your occasional occurrence where some people may have a semi-identical path to becoming a doctor. No two people would have the same exact path to reach their goal of being a doctor. Choice is a powerful gift. Some people choose to create life, while some choose to take it away. Some people choose to be bad while others choose to be good. I could go on for days with different variations and scenarios, but the outcome is going to be the same. The end conclusion will simply come down to a choice. The bad thing is that not all choices we make are easy ones. However the up side is that we all have a choice none the least!

Chapter Four

Death

Why do people fear death? It has got to be one of the most feared things in most people's lives. For me, I don't think it is the dying part that scares me, as much as not knowing what happens or what to expect after death. It is a reality that is difficult to grasp. With most phobias you are suppose to face your fear to overcome it. But how do you face death to overcome it? There is...