The Positive Persuasion

It’s a funny thing to close a major chapter in life.  I say ‘funny’ because reminiscing about the journey you’ve taken to get to where you are can sometimes make it better, or make it worse.  I spent the last week of my life moving out of my apartment – an apartment I acquired with a previous girlfriend.  I spent all day yesterday and today painting it back to ‘apartment white’ to satisfy those devilish office heathens.

As I sorted through the pieces of my previous life buried away in the cabinets, and under random piles of things, I rediscovered all the things that she and I collected – all the things that made that place our home.  There were a lot of items that I simply had no use for any longer, so I donated a lot of them, and the rest were sent to the heap.  It was an interesting day to say the least.

The most peculiar tid-bit in all of this is that I recognized what we had together, and I acknowledged its importance as I sifted through the treasures before me…but then I let them go.  But that’s not where the story ends.  I spent the greater part of my day painting, remembering all the experiences I had in the apartment after she left.  I remembered all the dinners I cooked for myself, my friends, my lover, my neighbors – the smells instantly coming back to me (faintly, I might add, over the fumes of the freshly painted walls).  One woman has always, and will always stand out.

I found it more troubling that I would never have those experiences with her in that apartment again.  I can still see myself washing a bell pepper in the sink, and looking over to the couch to see her laughing at my ridiculous little dog.  I remember the very first night she came over and I kissed her.  Those are the moments I wish I could keep living in that place.  Que sera, sera, no?  Our chemistry is dangerously combustible – which is wonderful for passion, but deadly without communication.  We’re not fit to be together now, but the future is an open canvas, and against all odds, I would love the chance to try again.

So with that, I welcome the new and uncertain chapter I’ve just started.  I have big plans, and an open mind.  I think many of us see life as one long stretch of happenings – unfortunately, the majority see life as ‘out of their hands’ as well.  This is a terrible misuse of credit.  Don’t give away all your credit to the cosmos, my friends.

Today’s Assignment:  Take a little time out this week and list off all the directions, twists, turns, leaps, and/or crashes your life has taken, and how you reacted to it.  Make an effort to put some things into chapters.  When you graduated college, and started ‘real life’, how did you feel about it?  Did you accomplish a lot, and felt good to put those days to rest?  Did you face adversity, and somehow find a way through it?

Truly identify the amazing things you did in your life so far.  You may not have thought they were that great at the time, but what would your life be like if it all went the other way?  You’ve got a lot more power than you think, and maybe taking a little stock of it, from time to time, could do you some good.  Always remember that closing a chapter doesn’t mean you’re losing or forgetting anything – it’s you letting that experience be written, and starting a new one.

Have a wonderful week!

P.S. Happy Birthday to you, SDM.  I wish you all the greatest moments life has to offer.

Blake

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