We are all, or most of us anyway, familiar with purchasing a car.

Some are rather plain and some are loaded with bells & whistles. It is sort of fun to think back through the years how the bells & whistles have changed. A/C, electric windows, power locks, radios, electric seats, air bags, navigation systems, etc., etc., etc. It’s nice to have all or at least a few of these bells & whistles, but lest we forget, what we really appreciate is the engine, transmission, and the tires.

I think life in general poses great similarities. There are many bells & whistles and these, too, have changed through the years. Today 24/7/365 entertainment through our televisions (remember when TV stations signed off at midnight?), along with the internet, we have 24/7/365 contact with others, some who we have never met and may live half way across the world. But, as with the car … the basic car – engine, transmission and tires that will get us from point A to B – life holds similar essentials. Self-reliance, personal relationships, and purpose. These are the keys to happiness that are often overshadowed by all the bells & whistles.