Keeping memories

There are all types of people when it comes to being sentimental. Some people hang on to everything, ticket stubs, old t-shirts and artwork from elementary school. Some people toss and hang on to nothing. Memories are the best, no one can take those away from you. I'd like to think I'm a happy medium when it comes to memories. I tried to keep a folder of papers and artwork for each of my kids throughout their school years, each grade, so they could someday look back on the stuff and it would bring them happiness, good memories, and some laughs!

This summer is the summer of cleaning out and as I put it "purging"! It is time to clean out, clean up and get rid of. All my kids have their own homes and I am giving them their memories. The books, clothes, toys, photos, artwork, jersey's, dresses and such. I get the feeling that most of the items I'm delivering will probably be going to the garbage or goodwill...this is totally their choice. I get that. But as someone who has very, very little from her youth I hope they someday aren't saying "I wish I had" or "I wish I'd kept"some items from their youth. You see it is good to look back, read old journals, look at elementary artwork or report cards put on your high school jersey or prom dress. This is all of what makes us who we are, us!

I wish I had items from my youth, the kindergarten family picture I drew of my entire family in swimsuits, or journals I wrote or books I'd read over and over again and were the favorites that I would have passed along to my kids when they were younger to read. Such happy and precious memories that I wish I could have shared with my kids. But that stuff is gone and are just my memories now.

No one can take your memories away from you. But having remembrances and keepsakes of days gone by and people who are no longer here are a special treasure. Sharing things from our youth and school year with your own children is a cool thing as well.

But once I give their stuff to them, it is theirs to do as they want...keep, toss or donate. I just have one hope, that they take the time, sit down, look at and go through the boxes of memories one more time and it brings them a smile or two one last time before they do whatever they do with the items. It's what makes you individual and unique.

I know it is all just stuff, just remember what you think is clutter and junk now someone someday might say, this was my dad's jersey or this was my mom's prom dress or a card from my great grandparents given to my dad or mom when they were my age. It's all in perspective, memories are precious. After all, I have my mom's wedding dress from 73 years ago. I have no idea what to do with it. But I know it brings me happiness when I open the box and look at it and remember photos from my parent's wedding and how beautiful my mom looked. Or the handmade rocking chairs my dad made for each of my kids, what a wonderful keepsake for them, something I've never had from my grandparents. Take the time and do more than live in the moment, keep those memories close.

Half empty or half full

There are some days when I do see the glass as half empty or the day mostly cloudy. But I'd like to think a majority of the time I see the glass not only half full but I appreciate the fact that the glass can be refilled! And I'd like to think that I look at the sky as mostly sunny rather than mostly cloudy.

When you work, live or are around people who are doom and gloom and minor life happenings are a catastrophe well you either fall into their wallow and negative mindset or you battle to be and do the opposite.   If I wasn't a "let's do this" or an "I'll try just about anything" kind of person I'd live in an old house that would still have 100-year-old wallpaper on the walls and ceilings, there would still be carpet in my bathrooms, there would be overgrown trees and bushes in my yard and the list goes on and on, but you get my point.

We all know and have the "problem for every situation" kind of people in our lives. They always have a negative for even the smallest things in life. I'm not sure how these people get out of bed every day but I'm sure it must be a negative experience and a "poor me" kind of mentality because they do have to get out of bed. I look at each morning as God seeing to give me another day. I'm not a morning person but we all have to get up and going every day and there are people in this world who can't get out of bed each day and wish they could. And yes I have aches and pains but that means I am alive and I can get out of bed. Sore muscles and pain mean I am able to do things and get around. I am alive.

I've turned off, tuned out and ignored the people who have a problem for every solution, life is too short and sooner or later the negative and poor me mentality takes its toll. I'm sure I've had my moments of seeing the problem rather than the solution, and I hope I haven't become one because I do live with and work with these types of people. Life is too short people. Each day is a gift and each day is an opportunity to try again. We don't all get it right and we are not perfect but we are given the opportunity. But instead of comparing yourself to others and seeing things as negative and bad, appreciate what you DO have. It is hard to live with someone who always sees life as poor and bad and sees and points out the negative. I choose to ignore and walk away. But there are times I just want to kick people in the shins and tell them "we've got it pretty damn nice" or "if you can't say anything nice then don't say anything at all". It is hard to stay positive when the world is such a negative place, but it is all in your perspective. I try to find a solution for every problem rather than a problem for every solution and end each day with what I do have rather than what I don't. I don't have the best of everything. I've got aches and pains and bills and there are things I'd like to change but more so I appreciate what I DO have. There is so much to be thankful for, and I remember and thank God for that every night before I go to sleep and again when I open my eyes in the mornings. This is what makes me appreciate and always looking for the positive and solutions in life.