Littering and.....

Trash overflowing the plastic can in the kitchen. Just one more shove down and I can get this final oatmeal container in.

(Squeeze) EEEEEhhhhhh

 

Ah, look at that. I've got another half a day of garbage before I have to actually take out the trash, to the larger trash. It is almost Wednesday and then the trash guys will take it to an even larger trash. After that, it's magic I'm guessing.

Magic!

 

Every bottle, can, carton, used container, wrapper, towel, paper plate, all of it from just our house gets shoved into this plastic receptacle and taken to "the dump," all of our trash except that junk I was talking about those people on Facebook. The negative response I had to the news, the judgments I held deep, my sick attention-seeking for an act that appeared as charity, oh, and let me not forget the sick curse words about some guy who intentionally cut me off in traffic.

Yea, this trash, this trash stays here. Right here, right in the brain.

 

There is no garbage man who is willing to take away this garbage. Dang, I tried this last week too. I tried to be better. I honestly started the week, day, hour, this minute, with the intention that my thoughts were going to be pure, judgements off, and keep my opinions to myself.

 

Fail.

 

Dang it, I failed again.

 

Ahhh... again.

 

I fail so much, it might just be easier to accept that this is who I am. That I think this way and give in to the criticisms that play in my head anyway, right?

 

Wrong. Actually as bad as these negative thoughts are, they could be worse, affect me worse. My thoughts are scrapes at this point, left untreated, they fester into incurable cancer. I have the opportunity, now, to be the guy I grew up with who never had a bad word to say about anybody, to be the coworker everyone likes because they have "good vibes." The guy you do not see posting on Facebook about taking a knee or lack thereof. The guy who when it all goes down, you wouldn't notice because he is consistent and finds reason in the unreasonable.

 

This person who holds their garbage in a Target sack versus my Hefty Extra-Strength Febreeze Scented bags of Sh**, is the go-to for a voice or an ear. The person who listens and doesn't speak, just because they care about what you have to say. The person whom say something that reminded them of you, bought it, and has no intent of a returned consideration. The human being who sees a client after-hours and doesn't feel owed anything, just wanted to help.

 

Do not mistake the actions as the intent to model here, but the mindset it takes to perform without recoil. Actions can be accomplished superficially like an Athlete donating time to a soup kitchen only to bring their own camera crew for the PR. The Super-Church Pastor whom makes it known to the world, the amount of people in their congregation or the amount of charity work done through their organizations. These actions would fall on the Nice list for old St. Nick this year, but the motive falls from altruistic to selfish real quick.

 

Listen because you care, do not expect a time to share. Give time for this was never yours but borrowed and therefore never lost.

 

There is no perfect human model for any behavior, for we all have garbage. Look for the good in people but it's easier when the people are good.