THURSDAY THOUGHTS - The Things That Matter Most

I've been busy this week, and so this is a day late - sorry about that. I'll be posting two things today - this post and one with a healthy recipe.

Guest Post:

This week we cleaned out our garage. I had dreaded even beginning this project, but was surprised at the feelings I had as my husband and I shuffled through all of the "stuff" we found. My Grandma Belle used to say, "Where does all of the 'stuff' come from?" As we continued plowing through the garage, I wondered the same thing. Let me explain myself.

First, we found four pair of skis, three sets of poles and six pair of ski boots...and my husband and I don't ski...go figure! Behind the ski equipment were four white plastic garbage bags filled with VHS tapes that my son spend a lot of money collecting years ago. We found a large picture of Cosmo Kramer from the TV Series Seinfeld, that used to be above the fireplace in my son's apartment when he was in college. Next to that was an old phone system that we absolutely knew we needed several years ago. There were some collage frames of my kids and their friends; one included the photo of my son's friend who died in s drug overdose almost eight years ago.

Because one man's junk is another mans' treasure, I called my sons to see if there was anything they wanted to keep before we headed to Deseret Industries and the dump. Their answers were very telling. Nick said to throw the VHS tapes away and to keep the photo collages of his friends. He has a DVD collection now that is bigger than the VHS collection of the past. Matt said to throw Kramer out but to keep the collage with his special friend's photo. Ron and I gave the phone system to D I because who uses those anymore? We have a cell phone now and no land line. I couldn't help but think how things change over the years and the the "stuff" we once thought we had to have just was not that important any more. When we purchased those skis and boots years ago we had to make sure they were the best that money could buy. Now two of the boys are married, all three of them work very hard at their jobs and skiing has taken a back seat. Although I did keep those in case one of them decides to take a run on the slopes again.

As I thought about this experience, I told myself once again that technology changes, styles change, even TV stars come and go. A child born within the last two or three years would not know who Cosmo Kramer was! All the "stuff" we think we need eventually runs its course to be replaced by more "stuff." The things that mattered to my boys and matter to most of us are the relationships we make with the special people in our lives. Time honored values such as love, integrity, determination and a host of others DO NOT CHANGE. They are eternal in nature.

Our garage is clean now....and it is a great feeling to be able to know where things are and to walk around without having that cluttered feeling. As I looked at the clean garage, I decided to be
more aware of the "stuff" in my life that I really don't need. I vowed to give more attention to the people that I love and the values that matter. When I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, it had the same affect on me. I realized that much of the "stuff" I gave my energy to just wasn't worth the energy I gave to it. I think those with Cancer know what I mean. Thankfully, I have been Cancer free for quite a while now. Maybe cleaning my garage taught me the same lesson that my Cancer diagnosis did....just in a different way....and I am grateful.

Kathy Christensen
Survivor
Member of Lifting Hearts