Page 21 - Whosjobisit

COSMOS EXPLAINS HOWARD WHOSJOBISIT
Howard’s behavior should sound very familiar. Many of you who read this story will recognize yourself as someone who acts like Howard. You certainly know others who act a lot like Howard. Howard’s behavior seems very natural but just as in the story; it causes a lot of problems. You know that your thinking is what causes your emotions and behaviors. Howard’s thinking (and maybe yours) was often Stinky.
We would all like our life to be easy and fun all the time. It’s not bad to want it to be that way but Howard expected it and even demanded that it be that way. That is what got him into trouble. He would not accept that sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do. Sometimes you must think of others rather than just thinking of yourself.
Howard had all kinds of Stinky Thinking excuses like, “I’ll do it next time” and “It’s not my turn.” He justified to himself that he did not have to do what others had to do or what was expected. He was able to ignore the suggestions and guidance of others, even if it caused him and others problems. This is why animals talk about humans having it too easy. The consequences for what humans think and do may happen in the distant future. But for animals, the consequences for not doing what needs to be done comes as soon as the next predator or the arrival of winter.
Unfortunately for Howard, he was able to get away with his Stinky Thinking almost an entire year (which in human terms would be equivalent to many, many years). Along the way, he lost the respect, friendship and trust of the other animals. But Howard did not seem to notice or care what the others told him, even if it made good sense.
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