Suitcases

One of my superpowers is knowing I am about to do something stupid. Unfortunately, it occurs right after it is too late to do something about it.

I enjoy tinkering with my cars, even when I shouldn’t. I spent a Saturday working on a variety of small projects. I installed LED lights in place of the regular bulbs to create a brighter interior. I replaced the valve stem caps with decorative ones. Last, I put new license plate covers on. Finally done, I went to pull my car into the garage.

One leg into my car, I began a semi-controlled fall into the driver’s seat. ***Spidey Sense*** Don’t sit down! Aaannnnddd… my butt hit the seat. Scrape. The just-too-late internal dialogue explained the concern, “Don’t sit down!... because there is a screwdriver in your back pocket.” I cautiously climbed out and admired the new, big scratch in the leather seat.

Sometimes, emotions show up so quickly and so fully that I cannot properly identify them. There was an overwhelming swell. Among other things, I felt denial, annoyance, and anger. I even sought someone else to blame.

It took a few angry days, but I finally let go. I didn’t forget. I couldn’t if I wanted to. Every day I opened my car door, I was reminded of my error. Letting go isn’t about forgetting. It is about feeling the full experience of the situation and then letting it be. It is about permitting myself to set it down and not allow the past friction into my present experience.

Whether I packed the suitcases or they were packed for me, carrying unnecessary baggage burdens my journey. The only choice is to discard.

What’s in my suitcases? Do I leave the friction in the past? Will I discard to move forward freely?

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.