Why Wait?

 

Spring-cleaning is the traditional annual event for getting rid of items around the house, which are no longer needed, used, or wanted.  Personally, I work to keep a spring-cleaning mentality going year-round since I prefer to get rid of things I no longer need, want, or use regularly.  It keeps my house free of clutter, plus it puts the things in the hands of others for them to use.

I believe in applying year-round spring cleaning to our hearts and heads, too, since we have a tendency to let clutter build up in both. The clutter is usually in the form of less than good memories of the past, a grudge, or ill feelings in the heart from conflicts and arguments.

Like the stuff in your house, the clutter does nothing but take up valuable room in your heart and head where you could be storing better and more positive memories.  Sure, there are unpleasant experiences and events in our lives which leave a mark on us, but we choose how long to hold on to that kind of clutter. Letting go does not minimize or diminish the memories or their importance in your life at the time, it simply means you aren’t going to let it define you any longer.

There are many ways to work at keeping the heart and head clutter to a manageable level.  For me, I write in a journal, send my Thoughts of the Day to a growing email list, meditate, read, pray, and talk.  Those tools work for me.  There are lots of other ways to work with it, so the important thing to remember is to use whatever tools help you. Don’t let the heart and head clutter build up on you. Engage in spring-cleaning year-round; it does indeed make a difference.