Trash in the Trunk

Yesterday, getting into my car I was hit with this drift of odor, like that of old food. Thanks to a stuffed up nose, Natalie didn’t smell it. I did what every logical parent does in that situation and told Natalie to look around for it while I was driving. She came up with nothing.

We went on to our first stop and getting back into the car a second time, I could smell it again. “There’s something in this car,” I proclaim. Natalie shrugs her shoulders nonchalantly, her cold keeping her oblivious to the weight of this problem. On we go to our next stop.

Third time, yes it’s a charm. I needed to put something in my trunk this time. As I go to unlock it, I notice red handles dangling out between the edges of the trunk. And it all comes rushing back to me….  yesterday in my hurry of saving 10 minutes after cleaning up the church, I threw all the trash in my trunk to bring home rather than going all the way down to the dumpster, unlocking it, etc.

This is so funny, lame, and predictable all at the same time.

How many times have I stuffed “trash in my trunk” knowing I could deal with it later? Thankfully in this case, the literal garbage was easily resolved once I figured it out.

The more challenging garbage to deal with is the intangible effects of bad days, negative emotions, and unruly life circumstances. How often am I guilty of stuffing it away, only to have it come back out with an unpleasant aroma in the future?

We’ve all been there. Hard time sleeping = no patience with co-workers. Bad day at work = not so happy parent at home. The people in my life did nothing to deserve my short, snappy tone. I have garbage in my trunk and the smell is there.

Today I ask, how can we best process garbage and put it where it belongs - in the dumpster - not in the recesses of our minds and hearts?

A few thoughts…

• Create margins: As much as you are able, create margins of time into your daily activities. Don’t work through your meal times, stop and give yourself even 15 - 20 minutes of rest. Don’t stay up and get only 5 hours of sleep all the time, make it a practice to get 7-8 hours. Consider your transitions from home to work, work to home. How can you invest 10 - 15 minutes to resolve what is “unfinished” so you can leave it completed and not take it with you?

• Receive your gift of limits. If your life has you rushing and stuffing garbage all the time, it’s time to receive your gift of limits and say no to some things. Even to some very good things. It’s worth it for your peace of mind and for all the people you are around.

• Practice releasing. Pay attention to your environment, your thoughts, and attitudes. Practice releasing negativity. You can do this through deep breathing, stretching, hand-washing, brisk walks, meditation, or prayer.

Living your best life means not stuffing life over-full. It means having the time and emotional energy to process the garbage and putting it in the dumpster - not stuffing it within and living with the odor. May you find regular practices that help you do that. Beyond that, let's intentionally fill our lives with good things, so the aroma of our lives is pleasant and attractive to the world around us. 

Let’s live our best lives, one day at a time.