As old as I am, I’m still learning.  Some times I’m learning stuff I’d really rather someone else learn!

Yesterday, as the kids and I were running errands, I came up behind a truck with a U-Haul attached to it.  It made me think about all the things I could put in it and toss from my house.  The old stuff I still have in the garage (for no good reason), the old stuff in my closet (for no good reason) and the “storage” closets I really should do something about.

But then I started thinking (sadly, this is how my mind works), about all the junk in my own mind that I should shove in a U-Haul and have driven away!  The negative or damaging thoughts. The situations that I’ve hung on to for years, just so I can bring them up later for …. what purpose?  To make me feel bad again?

Then it hit me: I’m the one renting the U-Haul.  I’m the one paying for the gas. And, I’m the one who pulls it behind me each and every day!  S@#@!

This week someone introduced me to a Buddhist text – The Dhammapada.  Wow is the only way I can describe it.  One chapter is entitled Choices.  Here’s an excerpt:

We are what we think.  All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts we make the world.  Speak or act with an impure mind and trouble will follow you. …. speak or act with a pure mind and happiness will follow you.

Regardless of your beliefs, there’s some serious truth to the notion that we have a choice on what we think, about how we approach situations, and our own negative tapes.  I remind my children that they will experience life events that are painful.  Some times seemingly unwieldy.  But how we manage the feelings (whether we store them for future reference or let them go) is what separates out those of us who can find peace and happiness in our lives despite the hurt, and those who can’t.

While I’m constantly harping on my kids, “You are what you eat, Mr. Spicy Hot Cheetos, Mr. Sugary Cereal and Captain Big Bowl of Ice Cream (at 10 p.m.!)” – I really should remind them that they really are a product of what they think about themselves and the world.

Imagine if we could live that way.  Maybe some of those “wars” we are watching could be solved by changing the massive U-Haul of negative tapes and hurt being carried around century after century.

It’s overwhelming to think of the consequences of negative thoughts.

Today, I’m going to take one negative thought out of my U-Haul and toss it.  Or, better yet, how about I ignore my U-Haul and bring forward one positive thought from this weekend to carry with me all day!

All this from a drive on the freeway to get new soccer cleats! 🙂

Have a fantastic start to your week!