Dear Friends,
Sunday Morning I woke up with a song in my heart and mind. When this happens, I have to get up and explore this music. The song was Precious Memories. I turned on my computer to search my iTunes to see if I had it. In my music, I found two great recordings of this song; one was by Alan Jackson and the other by Randy Travis. I listened to both of them. The lyrics had me reach back into my own childhood memories for the times I had sung this song in church.
What memories do you have from your childhood? In my life I choose to remember the good memories and selectively declutter the bad ones. Now don’t get me wrong. It is very difficult to get rid of them. In recent years, whenever a bad memory pops into my head; I thank God for it and pray for the person who produced that bad feeling. This helps me to put a different spin on the memory.
The good memories, I like to celebrate. I am thankful for those too. I have developed little triggers to spark my good memories each morning. Thinking about good things interrupts the bad memories. We don’t have to dwell in the past.
A few months ago I decided to learn something new each day. My sweet darling taught me to randomly go through Wikipedia. This reminds me of opening up an encyclopedia as a child and learning new things. I loved doing that. The memory is of my Father and my sister Paddi. We used to do this together. I made Wikipedia one of my home screens on my computer.
My computer has become my Happiness File. I learned about Happiness Files many years ago in a book that Pam Young wrote co-wrote with her sister. In their book, The Happiness File, they suggested putting together a little box of memories to help you when you are sad. I took that idea and used my computer, home, and iphone as my Happiness File. That book changed my life.
In the same way certain things can produce a good memory; items in your home can produce a bad memory. This is why it is so important to declutter items in your home that make you sad. When I walk through our home; I smile! We only have things that evoke good memories. I want this for you too.
Do you have people in your life who make you feel bad? I know this is going to seem harsh to some of you, please hear me out. Sometimes we have to let go of them. We can’t change them. Until you are strong enough to be around them without getting upset; then please limit your time with them. Some people just want to see you miserable. These same people love to spout their negativity on Facebook and Twitter.
In the last year I have decluttered my Facebook feed to only show me uplifting messages. The people who were always spouting hatefulness are no longer in my newsfeed. Now my Facebook newsfeed is another Happiness File.
Now I want you to look at the memories you are setting in your family’s mind and hearts. Are they going to be ones of hurtful words and a clutter home? Or are they going to remember you with smile on their face. Are your words going to lift them up when they need it or are they going to be the negative voice they hear in their own head?
We only have the ability to change ourselves! We can change how we react if we will just recognize what is happening to us. Fill your head with good things; drowned out those negative voices of the past by listening to good books, happy music, and by practicing slowing your mind down with meditation.
Meditation was one of the greatest gifts I ever gave myself. I started practicing meditation to release stress. I never dreamed that it would bring me closer to God. At this point in my life, I realize that prayer is when I talk to God and mediation is when I listen for God’s message for me. It is such a blessing to declutter my brain so I can hear.
Are you ready to fill your soul with precious memories?
FlyLady
