We had a garage sale the other weekend - releasing the old to make room for the new. It is amazing what attachments we form in our lifetimes to 'stuff' and why. For me, it is books - which I have found represent my attachment to my assimilation of knowledge and experiences. I realized that I was holding onto these books, many of which I skimmed over while reading several simultaneously, so that I could potentially 'refer' back to them at a later date.
It's been 30+ years for those Tolkien books there in the picture and I promise you that I have never cracked the cover on those since I finished reading them in 6th grade. The power of the experience of reading those books as a young boy had stayed with me my entire life - I do remember reading them and literally expanding my consciousness with each page. Such creativity, imagination and magic - truly life changing for me personally. And so, I held onto them. And what is the harm in that?
Nothing really... other than the expansion of today, the new joy of assimilation, the experience of NOW, the book I'm reading today. There will never be another first time reading The Hobbit, but there will be a first time experience of my next life changing book, story, moment or experience. I want all of my focus and attention to be available for that experience so that I am as present as I possibly can be.
That is why I gave up my books even though I held onto them for many years... to make room for today. Give it a try, you may never know what will happen next.... :)
All the Best,
Whitney
© 2011 Whitney Merrill All Rights Reserved
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