FEBRUARY 1, 2010

Good Morning!

We often hear of people as they get older or wiser say things such as " I need to travel lighter", I often heard my own dad say he liked lighter clothes as they seemed to feel better, less cumbersome. They seemed to fit his new life style better, easier to travel or move with lighter attire. I used to find these expressions funny in an odd way, not really understanding their true meaning or implied idea.

For younger folks, they often feel the need to travel lighter. To jettison the old baggage of the past, which just another way of saying this relationship is just not working for me any more. The problem with this direction, is that quite often we either don't really understand what we are saying or we are unaware of the implications this action leads to.

Imagine if you will that you are carrying a back pack filled with all your life's valuables and treasures. Also imagine that after a lifetime of schlepping this backpack around, tired and possibly even dissatisfied at the your life you decide it is time to do some house cleaning and really see what is so important that you have spent a lifetime in this pursuit. So you empty your pack and are amazed at the content. Clothes, trophies, several of your favorite books, and of course your shoes. You begin to see the bottom of your backpack and finally you find a box, not an ordinary box, but a very special box, and not one you remember placing in there. On the box cover is a small label with the following inscription. Memories, open in case of life crisis. Inside you find a lifetime, your lifetime of all the things you have done, the people who have passed in and out of your life and every thought and feeling that has passed through your mind. Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!! You start to read over the scraps that make up your life and you suddenly realize what an amazing life you have lead. Not a life free of strife, worry or even sadness and tragedy, bit a wonderful life none the less.

After spending a few more moments rummaging through your memories you are ready to fully examine the rest of the contents. You decide what you will keep and carry with you, and what you will toss in the dumpster and never give another thought to. For some reason you seem in such a hurry to finish this task that you may have mixed up the things (people) you planned on keeping with the things you planned on getting rid of. How sad for you that if in your hurry to remake your life, to travel lighter as it were, that you also throw out the most precious items you have, that being the people and memories of a once wonderful life.

Just for today, as you open yourself up to new experiences and people, you shouldn't forget what is really important in your life......

Have a joyful day,

Robb