We all have our household junk drawers. Probably in the laundry room or kitchen. There are two classes of “junk” in our junk drawers. Useful stuff and not-so-useful stuff.
The useful stuff consists of things like a pair of pliers, a couple of screwdrivers, maybe a flashlight, and a partial roll of duct tape and you know why that stuff is there. Then there are the other things. You have no idea why they are there when they got there, or even where they came from.
The not-so-useful stuff probably consists of things like a bent paper clip, a bobby pin, an assortment of batteries of questionable strength, a roll of string, a scrap of sandpaper, and a few screws, nuts, and bolts. There are usually a couple of thingies that you don’t even know what they are.
From time to time we need to clean out the junk drawer and toss the not-so-useful items.
Then there is the other junk drawer. The one in the mind. Oh yes, we all have them and they too have both useful and not-so-useful items in them. The useful items consist of happy memories of people, places, and events. They hold the glow from successes and good decisions.
These junk drawers of the mind also hold memories of disappointments, failures, hurts, failed relationships, and poor decisions.
Like the household junk drawer, the junk drawer of the mind needs to be cleaned out from time to time. Trash the bad and hurtful items. These are the things that spoil our peace of mind, impact our happiness, and can even lead to depression. Cleaning this one is harder than the one in the laundry room, but practice will make it easier.
How long has it been since you cleaned out your two junk drawers?
Lots to think about in this article Ken, we need to clear our trash not only in our minds, but in our hearts as well. God Bless and a Blessed Easter to you and yours
Very good point, Lynn. Thanks for the reminder. Best to you and Danny.
Another great article Ken. You forced me to think about what I have in my mind junk drawer. What I need to keep and what I really need to get rid of. Judgement for me comes to mind. The old Sicilian saying “We may forgive but we don’t forget”. My wife always reminds me that I need to focus on things I can control rather than those I can’t. Stop being so cynical. Sometimes old habits are hard to get rid of out of that junk drawer.
My happy memories are my family and some of the things that I have accomplished like breaking 100 with my golf game. Other memories not so much and after reading your article I guess it’s time to clean out my mind junk drawer.
Thanks again Ken.
Wishing you and your family a Happy Easter
Semper Fi
Thanks for your comments, Tom. I agree that focusing on things we have some control over is better for one’s peace of mind. Sorting out what to discard is not always easy and the discipline to really get rid of those items is even harder.
PS: While we managed several golf resorts I was never much of a golfer myself. I did break 100 several times, but that was on the first 9.
You are right, Danny. The first step is to wisely choose what to keep and what to trash.
Another thought-provoking article Ken. You have drawn a good word-picture analogy between the two drawers and their contents to our recesses of our minds. Flotsam and jetsam comes to Gumshoe’s thoughts as well as ballast. Keeping an even keel in life’s storms is necessary for survival. Knowing what things (memories) to cast off before they have a chance to sink you or have you run aground is clear sailing at its best me heartie!