HOW'S YOUR MEMORY?
Many people complain that their memory is not what it used to be. But
memory can be a powerful tool for spiritual and emotional
rejuvenation!
I recently spent a few days in the mountains of Colorado. My
conference scheduled a long break one afternoon. We were encouraged to
relax and rejuvenate our spirits. Many of the attendees decided to
play golf and asked if I wanted to come along.
Golf does not rejuvenate my spirit. I've LOST more religion on the
golf course than I can remember! I feel a bit like Bob Hope who said
that if you watch a sport, it's fun; if you play a sport, it's
recreation; and if you work at a sport, it's golf." I decided to do
something more relaxing, so I went for a walk.
A little way down a rural, dirt road, I spotted horses in a coral. I
carefully approached, so as not to frighten them. Then I inhaled as
deeply as I could. With the smell of the horses and the coral came a
flood of memories.
I visited my grandparent's guest ranch every summer as a child. When I
was a teenager, I worked on the ranch. Some of my happiest memories
growing up were around horses and horse smells.
Inhaling horse smells, I recalled hot afternoons of pulling saddles
and blankets off perspiring horses then brushing down their backs. The
pungent smell of horse sweat filled my mind.
I recalled the soft touch of a horse's nose sniffing my hand for
sugar, and the warmth of a horseĘs neck as I put my arms around it and
hugged it close.
Manure smells brought back memories of hours spent in corals
saddling, bridling and working with horses. Again, I inhaled deeply.
I recalled rising before dawn and riding in the crisp, early morning
air searching along hills and valleys for horses let out the previous
evening to range free of fences.
I remembered afternoon naps under a ponderosa pine tree, my hat pulled
down over my face, listening to the sounds of buzzing flies and
swishing horse tails.
As I breathed in the smells, my mind enjoyed ancient memories of day
long horseback rides, valley vistas of soft, green grass...brown later
in the summer, pristine mountains and clear, shallow mountain creeks
running beside horse trails carved in red earth.
I remembered, too, how it felt to be young with my whole life ahead. I
felt again the sense of adventure and excitement of those heady, teen
years. Not that IĘd ever want to go back and relive themąbut maybe
visit occasionally in my mind. I rememberedąand felt renewed.
Later in the day we shared how we spent our afternoon. Many people in
our group boasted of golf scores. Some talked about walking or hiking.
When it was my turn, I just said, "I smelled the horses."
What do you fill your mind with? Do you dwell on self-defeating
thoughts that sap your emotions, or do you fill your mind with
strength-giving memories? Memories can rejuvenate the spirit with new
life and energy. They can be a solace during difficult times and a
source of joy anytime we choose to visit.
Whether or not your memory is good, how are your memories?
__________
Steve Goodier
Publisher@... is a professional
speaker, consultant and author of numerous books. Visit his site for
more information, or to sign up for his FREE newsletter of Life, Love
and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.
