Pounds Equal Pain

I have been blessed to work with, and, for many men who have served in the special forces. They have a saying. Ounces equals pounds. Pounds equal pain. They are referring to what they are carrying in their backpack {when leaving for a mission}. In other words, they take only what is important. They don't over pack. And to me, the real message is, we should let go of what we don't need. Yes I know. It sounds easy {I hear your sarcastic voice.} 

The big picture is this. How many thoughts, relationships and experiences do we hang onto that no longer serve us? Holding onto these things is like filling your backpack with bricks. It simply doesn't serve a purpose, and weighs you down. Drop the bricks, and use your pack for what it was intended for. The important stuff. The same holds true with your mind. Let some shit go. Develop a short term memory. Learn to forgive. This, is how we lighten the load. 

There is a famous saying from coach Lou Holtz. He said, "It's not the load that breaks you down. It's the way you carry it." No truer words have been spoken. All you need is a 20 pound weight to learn this lesson. Pick it up and carry it over your head for as long as you can. Then, take that same weight, and place it by your side and see if that is easier. The answer is yes. It's simple physics. 20 pounds may not seem like a lot, but if you're holding it over your head, it soon becomes significant. At your side though, it will become troublesome, but your body will adjust. That's something you can't do with it over your head. Gravity wins the day. 

Those small things that we hold onto.....You know the off handed compliments, the spilling of your coffee, or the person who cut you off in traffic. Individually, just a minor set back. But if you're holding onto multiple little things, that set back seems like a set up. A set up for a bad attitude. Those small things are ounces. But all together they become pounds. Find a vehicle to lose weight....metaphorically speaking. Whether it's meditation, a relaxing bath, a good run or good cry, find a way to let go of the ounces. Because ounces are pain. And ain't nobody got time for that.