We quickly and routines take out the physical garbage in our lives, prompted by the cycle of our Municipal System which cues us each week to do so. When we forget, our other senses kick in to remind us with visual clues at the end of a neighbour's driveway or olfactory clues in the form of terrible smells.
But what about our emotional garbage? Without external clues, how many of us routinely sift through our junk and remember to eradicate it from our lives? How many of us bury it deep down hoping its stench and toxicity it will not show up in our lives? How many of us throw it out back hoping that hiding it in plain site means that it's hidden? If you checked you emotional backyard right now, would it be clear or would you find it littered with garbage from your last relationship? From your mother? From your father?
Do you invite other people into your yard and ask them to help you pretend they see a well-manicured lawn adorned with blooming flowers or do you allow them to point out the weeds and make suggestions for improvements? Do you ever ask them to help you?
If you have ever seen a therapist then I would say yes, you have either taken out or at least tried to organize your garbage. Not enough of us see therapists to clear our emotional garbage. We more often do it to stabilize ourselves during emotional crisis.
Sometimes, on garbage day, I'll spot a neighbour putting their garbage at someone else's curb. It's innocent enough, really. They just want to take out their trash and the truck has already passed so they cross the street and plunk it down before the truck doubles back. Perhaps you do that. Perhaps you dump your garbage on someone else and walk away with the satisfaction of knowing your trash can is empty.
Unlike the literal garbage, however, I guarantee you that no matter how often or how well you think you dump your emotional trash on someone else, it won't take long before you discover the mound in your life has not just returned but increased.
If you have ever seen a therapist then I would say yes, you have either taken out or at least tried to organize your garbage. Not enough of us see therapists to clear our emotional garbage. We more often do it to stabilize ourselves during emotional crisis.
Sometimes, on garbage day, I'll spot a neighbour putting their garbage at someone else's curb. It's innocent enough, really. They just want to take out their trash and the truck has already passed so they cross the street and plunk it down before the truck doubles back. Perhaps you do that. Perhaps you dump your garbage on someone else and walk away with the satisfaction of knowing your trash can is empty.
Unlike the literal garbage, however, I guarantee you that no matter how often or how well you think you dump your emotional trash on someone else, it won't take long before you discover the mound in your life has not just returned but increased.
Paddling out in the canoe, I see this garbage on the side of this hill and I wonder why anyone would leave it there. I wonder why they don't get a friend and clean it up. Then I remind myself...some garbage is better off out in the open.
No comments:
Post a Comment