I had a nightmare last night; I arrived at the most beautiful tropical island and began to unpack. I was looking forward to going to the beach, and I was shocked when I opened the suitcase. There were only clothes that were appropriate for Antarctica. Talk about ruining the moment. I packed baggage, not luggage.
So, what does this have to do with anything? Everything that I talked about in becoming the storyteller.
The baggage is a couple of things. First, baggage are the things that we have done in the past that helped us cope. Whether it be drugs, alcohol, junk food, shopping, anything we do to help us cope. As we grow, it is time to put these things aside.
Now, I have had lots of baggage like this, and I still carry some, but I am a work in progress. Just as a child grows up and they let their old favorite toys go because they discover something better, so should we. As we discover something better, the still quiet voice within, we can let go of the baggage in order to move forward with luggage.
Secondly, as I talked about last week, we must take off that old record that keeps skipping over and over again. (Showing my age with that statement!) Telling what someone did to you repeatedly is baggage. That is not what you want to carry with you all the time, is it?
When we get stuck on something, two things happen; the story seems to get bigger over time, increasing our anger, and we see ourselves as the victims. That is a lot of baggage to carry, and it is heavy. It wears us down and weakens us. If we just learn to put the baggage down, we can exchange it for luggage. That can happen at any time—it is our choice.
If someone works at your home and helps themself to something of yours, that can be devastating. It can become part of your baggage. Take for instance this statement: “I will not trust anyone in my house again.” From that point on, you watch everyone like a hawk.
There is a second choice. You can shrug your shoulders and simply say: “I guess it is time to let that go.” Maybe you will get the item back; maybe you won’t, but either way, do you want it to become baggage? I don’t.
I want luggage. It becomes easy to create luggage simply by listening to the still, small voice within. God, Source, Divine doesn’t want us to carry baggage. (Though it is perfectly okay if that is what you choose to carry.) Divine knows sooner or later you’ll grow tired of carrying the baggage because it causes pain and suffering.
When you give up that baggage, life gets lighter, friendlier, and more beautiful. Drop the baggage, and travel with luggage.
Theresa Contaxis 