Let’s talk about your “ands” and “thens”

Have you ever really thought about the definition of the word “and”?

Actually the word “and” doesn’t mean anything. It is more of a function than a word. It’s like the plus sign in a mathematical formula (1 + 1 = 2).

We use the word “and” as a bridge to connects things.

For example, we could say, “Sam and Sally are going to town and they are going to the grocery store and they are going to order takeout and stop by the post office and…

This “andness” could go on forever if you don’t finally insert a “then”.

The word “then” puts an end to a potential long string of “ands”. It’s a crossroad where things change direction.

You’re rocking along “anding” until you come to the crossroad of “then” and then your life changes directions.

As in…

My life kept getting worse and worse and worse and worse but then…

Or as in…

I am going to do this and this and this and this and then…

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The ONE THING for today: Life can slip away from you with an endless series of thoughtless “ands” unless you are intentional about inserting “thens” in the right place.

Now there’s a little different English lesson for you.