LETTERS: CLEAR THE MIND TO FIND YOUR THOUGHTS

To the editor:

One morning after my wife had dropped me off at work, I experienced a frustrating situation which became a valuable lesson in life.

I was the first to arrive a work that day, and I was searching for the keys to the building, which were in my pocket. I was having a difficult time finding them, because my pockets were full of wrapped peppermint candies. I had been at a restaurant the night before. Out of greed, I stuffed several handfuls of these candies in my pocket. Now they were keeping me from finding my keys.

After spending some time trying to find the keys, I had to empty my pockets completely of the candy in order to find them. Upon entering the building, I began to think what had just taken place. I found no joy in not being able to find my keys. Why had I cluttered up my pockets with all that junk?

As I meditated about the occurrence, I thought about how sometimes my mind seemed to be full of clutter, almost to the point where a clear thought was as hard to find as those keys. The answer in finding the keys was to empty my pockets. Thus, when having a difficult time trying to think clearly, the obvious thing for one to do would be to empty the pockets in your mind. Empty out all of that junk that is up there. Throw it out. Lay it aside. Then reach back for the thing you are looking for.

What began as a frustration became a good lesson. So if you are experiencing frustrations in your life, empty your pockets and turn your frustrations into lessons learned. You will become a stronger person, and life will be taken in stride instead of strife.

RON FARROW

Cape Girardeau