What are you keeping in your 'house'?

    It is about that time of the year when some have decided to partake in some spring -cleaning around the house. It is during this time one can make some interesting discoveries: blank pages, pens which  no longer write, newspapers dated 2009.....yes. I, personally, have stumbled upon such items before and I often wondered why I even bothered to keep them. The old, insignificant collection is finally discarded and it is at this point one  realizes the alarming amount of trash that occupied the rooms of the house.
   What do you consider to be  treasured items in your home? How do you treat these? With pride and dignity of course! Picture frames adorn tables and walls and are carefully dusted. Jewelry, of great sentimental value, is placed neatly in  a box on a shelf. Paintings, books, and for some, even clothing is treated in the same manner. Why is this the case? Simply because it is human nature to treasure items that we collected over the years, which remind us of people, events, places and they aid in generating positive feelings; reliving good memories. We, therefore, have a tendency to  keep and treasure whatever brings us great joy.
   Why then do we find ourselves doing the opposite whenever it pertains to our thoughts? Many of us find forgiveness very difficult, especially when we have trusted, befriended or cared for someone who in turn, has caused us pain. One sight of the aggressor and we cross the  street, ignore, or walk away from since by doing this we seemingly emptying ourselves of a bad memory; but all the feelings have already returned by simply seeing them again right? So forgive? "That person must pay" you might say. The truth is they do not....but you do.
   We live in a house of thoughts. Everyday we decide what we are going to 'purchase' to adorn our house- we buy goods and we eat from it. Therefore, we need to ask ourselves if we ' spring-clean' our house of thoughts and what are the things we keep and discard. It is here, we discover, that unlike the tangible homes we live in where we keep the treasures and throw away the old collectibles, we actually do the opposite! We remember the friend who lied about us 5 years ago and still refuse talk to her/ him, the person who stole money and never repented, the girlfriend or boyfriend who cheated and the list continues. In other words, we carefully dust, polish, shine, and hang picture frames of our old ' newspapers from 5 years ago' and the pen which no longer writes and soon run out of space for our real 'treasures' which, if we are not careful, can eventually be tossed aside. Would we ever frame a rotten potato or polish a worn out sneakers? Of course not. Every time we choose to collect items in our house of thoughts that we should discard  it would eventually lead to unforgiveness.
       The cure? Throw away the unwanted, painful, old memories that stir up negative emotions and pull out the good memories of people, places and events that brings you exhilarating joy every time you remember. The painful memories have served their purpose; analyze, learn from it and move on. Have you ever laughed aloud while remembering something hilarious you experienced with a friend? We all have. You deserve many more like that. Treasure these moments instead in your house of thoughts........



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