The beauty of organized chaos is the ability to see through the clutter to find what is needed. Simply and inevitably, life is messy. As humans, we run around without paying attention, leaving a trail of things behind us that offers a glimpse into our everyday lives. Little things that if looked at carefully can prove to be an insight into someone's very soul. Things tend to collect in one area, as they are easier to find that way. Some households have "junk drawers" where these items congregate. Some are used often, others very seldom, and others not at all.
What might we find out about someone while looking through their junk drawer? Say this person has many flashlights, perhaps they are afraid of the dark. They may go camping or night hiking often. The storm prone area they might live in could experience frequent power outages.
Why do we keep things we no longer use? Perhaps all of those flashlights are old and broken, but they could be used at some point so we keep them. In the back of our minds, there may be a certain attachment or a possibility that we may need this item, that hasn't been used in twenty years- at some point in the future. Perhaps there is a fear of being unprepared. Perhaps there is an instinct to protect ourselves by whatever means necessary that compels us to save this junk. The primal desire to save may be written in our genetic code. Is this security that this brings us false? Does it ever help at all? Or is keeping this junk a complete waste of time and potential space?
What is the definition of junk? Is it any different than garbage? Junk can have meaning and history behind it, like an old school picture, or an old friend's watch. These things are truly close to the heart and personal, and something holds one back from them away. Garbage, on the other hand, is meant to be tossed away. A simple candy wrapper or a tissue has no sentiment. No one feels bad for ridding themselves of that. Perhaps neither garbage nor junk has a real use, but we feel like it does. We want it to, at least, with all of our hearts.
Why do we use the heart as a metaphor? It is just a vessel that pumps her blood, yet to us it is so much more. Our brain is what thinks and feels, yet we credit the heart with all the highs and lows of our emotions- love and happiness, anger and sadness. We feel attached to it. As we are with the junk in our junk drawers, perhaps it offers not what we think it does, but offers a sort of comfort that helps us move forward. Something that makes us smile to ourselves as we walk through life. We will continue to use this metaphor, as we will continue to save the little sentimental odds and ends.
Whether it brings back old memories, or makes us feel safe and prepared for what may come, the junk that takes up space in our lives- wanted or unwanted. It is close to our hearts, brightening our smiles and cluttering our homes.
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Quotes by the Human Race for the Human Race
RandomWords, Can do many things, They wriggle their way in our brains when we are young and stay there. They can say horrible things, And make us want to die. They can whisper pleasurable sounds in our ears, and persuade us to do things we us...
