Short Term Memory

I spent a great evening a few days ago celebrating a wedding of some dear people that I know and the very next day I was on the road to get to another celebratory event out of town.  As I drove on my way from one post event to another, I thought about the wonderful milestones that we all get to enjoy with others who have walked alongside us over the years.  We all know family and friends that have been part of our lives for so long, that allow us the opportunity to enjoy each others company in between visits, as we catch up on our recent past.  I appreciate all of these moments even more as an adult, as I realize what a great life I have had thus far, in being able to contemplate and be part of this community of people that looks out for one another.  I relish the moments now when I get to see these wonderful individuals and get a moment take it all in, as we catch up on the many things that have transpired since our last encounter.  I get to hear and see pictures of how children have grown up and some of them have their own babies now.  How time flies is certainly among the first things that pops into my head, when I absorb all of these stories and pictures of these extended family members.  It is a great feeling to have, when one realizes that the path you have traveled has been decorated with these beautiful tapestries of the many folks that have been part of your life over the course of so many years.  Although my first thoughts to myself might be centered around how old I must be, in contrast to the many children that I once knew, I really do take it all in and just smile at how beautiful our lives have been thus far.  In these moments, I also think about the many people that either struggle with their own personal relationships or perhaps have chosen to distance themselves from the many family members that they once had.  Because of the difficulties that may be associated with specific individuals, I have learned that there are many people that would rather not open an old wound and keep their feelings along with their need to re-connect to people at a minimum.  I find it a bit sad when I hear that some family members have not seen or spoken to their relatives for a large number of years and there was specific intent in doing so.  I figure that with life being too short, we cannot afford to carry those ill feelings forward and if people have crossed my path with an unkind word in the past, I choose to have a short term memory and not remember or carry any resentment along with recollections of any strife.  At the age that I am in life, I have chosen to only participate in relationships that add value to myself and others, while I leave all which no longer serves a purpose for me in the very distant past.  Having a short memory when it comes to recalling ill feelings or any other instance when someone's actions were less than noble towards you makes for a happier outlook on life.  I once heard someone speak about their family dog and although the dog misbehaved and caused some minor damage around the house, they knew right away when they were corrected about their behavior.  However, unlike us humans, dogs quickly forget what the bad circumstance was and they wag their tail along with offer their unconditional love in an immediate fashion.  As move about your day and think about any of those circumstances in the past where you felt wronged or were the target of some negative emotion, do yourself a favor and choose to let those memories lie in the past where they belong.  Allow for some peace of mind and use your internal delete button when you run across these circumstances that for all intents and purposes are better left with no further attention needed by you.