The Uniform

I started thinking recently about the idea of becoming emotionally attached to things.  For the most part, I don't view myself as someone who places a lot of emotional attachment to my possessions.  My home is filled with the things that I love, but not necessarily things that evoke great emotion.  The memories I have are in my heart and in my head.  They can't be taken away from me even when I sell an object or move to another home. I want to share a little story about an item that I realized in the past week may have some emotional attachment thrust upon it from my subconscious mind.  

In my basement sits a box labeled "mementos."  This box has made it's home in 5 attics or basements in the last 15 years (That's right, we have lived in 5 houses in our 15 years of marriage.  We have an old house obsession.  I don't believe there is a 12-step program for this kind of addiction! )  Right now I cannot even tell you what's in this box, except for one item: my sixth grade Optimist cheerleading uniform.  Before it had a home in this box, this uniform sat in another box in my parents' attic for over 8 years. 

On the surface this uniform really doesn't mean anything to me.  But I asked myself this week, "Why have I lugged this thing around all these years?"  Then I realized maybe it was because it was part of dream that never became a reality for me.  Ever since I was a little girl watching high school basketball games I wanted to be a cheerleader. In sixth grade I got the chance to cheer for the Optimist Basketball League. There were no tryouts.  Our uniforms were hand made by somebody's mom's friend.  There were no stunts or pyramids.  But I had fun.  So when 7th grade cheerleading tryouts rolled around I was ready.  I was going to be a "real" cheerleader.  Except I didn't get chosen.  I was determined to make the squad in 8th grade.  But I didn't get chosen then either.  After a failed attempt in 9th grade I resigned myself that I must not be cheerleader material. 

The story doesn't have a sad ending though.  When I didn't make the squad in 7th grade my parents suggested I join the swim club.  I enjoyed being in the water and enjoyed the competitive nature of racing.  Until then I had never played any sports except in gym class.  After my failed attempt in 8th grade I decided that I would try running cross country.  I found that I was good at it!  I have lots of endurance.  Maybe God was preparing me to be the mother of twin boys all these years later!  I enjoyed running and enjoyed the camaraderie of running as a group.  Today I still run and swim for fitness.  How many 35-year-olds do you see cheerleading for exercise?  Through disappointments I found a love for two activities I still enjoy today that I might not have otherwise found. 

So that brings me back to the box in the basement.  The next time I clean out the basement I am saying, "Adios" to that old uniform.  I don't need it and I am not attached to it.  Do you have anything in your home that is taking up space because you have consciously or subconsciously become emotionally attached to it?  Maybe it's time to say good-bye to holding the clutter in your home and hello to holding the memories in your heart.