Journal Entry #678
July 20th, 2012
I have been looking for the perfect analogy to describe one of the core problems I see that we as humans subject ourselves to on a daily basis and I think I have found it.
“Picture if you will an imaginary backpack where every lie, every act that harms and every betrayal is placed. You cannot just throw this backpack away. The more you put in the backpack the heavier it gets and at some point it will become full. Eventually you become exhausted from carrying this around, eventually you cannot move while wearing it, it will consume every moment you exist and the only way to lighten the load is to take everything out of it and deal with it.
You cannot escape dealing with your backpack so the smart thing to do is not put anything in there to begin with. “
Gary David Currie
A big thanks to the father and son in Kelowna BC who allowed me to take this great shot.
So many of us are walking around with these heavy backpacks. The task of carrying this becomes exhausting yet we continue to try so many ways to not deal with it. I can daily see the pain caused by the burden of carrying this around.
I see it in those I love, those I have just met and those I know. Look into a person’s eyes and if you take that moment to truly see it is all there.
We try an ease this pain by indulging in the escapes, these escapes turn into addictions just filling our backpacks up even more until it gets to the point where we cannot even move, it is then we hit bottom and we either deal with what is in our backpacks our we die.
There is no escape from this and as you do it will only fill it up even faster. You see when you are not focusing or looking at your backpack as it is behind you then you are not dealing with it and it must be dealt with. There is no choice.
Even when we think we are trying to deal with it we are still running away. One must stop focus on what is in there and deal with the contents one at a time. This will be a daunting task for most as they have been filling it up for years but it will end at some point.
Running is never the best option and all escapes are only temporary relief like a pain killer but all escapes become part of the burden.
So I urge all to stop filling up your backpack, don’t wait until it becomes so heavy you are exhausted with the act of living.
The only way to truly deal with it is to deal with it.. Face it all.
So many solutions out there are not solutions at all but apparent quick fixes disguised as healing, the list is huge. It really is simple.
If you lied make it right. This involves acknowledging the lie (which seems to be the hardest part for people to do), apologizing and then making it right.
If you have harmed someone same process.
If you have betrayed someone same process.
You see the person that will benefit the most from real healing is you, You must not lie, one must acknowledge the truth on all things not what they think is the truth. You cannot change the past but you can from this moment on make it right and allow the truth to set you free.
I am at a place in my life where my backpack is empty but it is always there for me to start filling at anytime. I just choose not to. This does not mean I do not have problems or issues I deal with it just means I do not lie about them. I take responsibility for what is mine to own.
I suggest you do the same. Please do not look for the quick fix as it has taken you years to fill it up it will take time to empty it but it will be quicker once you accept the truth on everything.
There is no escaping the backpack so stop trying to…
If your backpack is empty people will know. If you need to tell people your happy then you probably are not.
You can pretend you have dealt with things all you want to but until you have actually faced the problems head on nothing will be solved.
I leave you this to think about..
Facing your fears, the truth is as hard or as easy as you want it to be. You will have no choice, all that is unknown is how long it will take you to hit bottom.
Seek the truth always
Gary David Currie
