Powerful and Good Memories

So, this morning I am sitting in YYC waiting for a flight to Vancouver for some meetings. As I went through security I was one of the lucky ones that got stopped and searched in a more thorough manner - and by thorough I don't mean body cavity. 

That said, when the guy was done his swabbing and scanning I asked him how often this sort of thing yields any result. He looked at me and said, "Well, I have been working here for 4.5 months and I have never found anything illegal." 

"Why did you search me then?" I asked.

"Well, its "charter day," he said.

"Charter day?"

"Yeah, today's the day that we have all the charters that head to Cuba from Calgary."

I looked around and sure enough, there were lots of people who looked as though they were headed for warmer climes. Part of me was envious because on the drive to the airport it was snowing like crazy! Who wouldn't want to head south?

Another part of me just smiled. Why? Because I remembered that only a month ago I was playing on the beaches of Mexico (see picture) with my family. And, while I likely won't go again for a long time (at least that's what Kristin keeps telling me - we'll see who wins that battle) - I can remember, and remembering is important.

All too often the only thing we talk about when we think of memories is the stuff we want to forget: the gas we passed inadvertently in the elevator, the social faux pas we committed in "good company," relational failure, pain of more significant matters, etc. 

Don't get me wrong - avoid recalling these things if you think that's going to help. But, what if you spent some deliberate time remembering the best moments, the finest words you have heard said to you, the most beautiful afternoons of fun, laughter and delight you have had. What if we leaned into these a bit more, told the stories over and over, remembered the best parts of our lives and let them echo in our homes as much as possible. 

It likely wouldn't undo the crap that we try to forget. But, it would change things for the better.

What story could you tell to someone today about a great moment in your life?