The Smell of New Leather

Baggage

This is not about travel. It’s about the journey to the river.

On this journey, everyone has baggage. Baggage is something from the past that we carry into the the present. It may be welcome or unwelcome. It may be pleasant or painful. Some goes back to childhood. Other baggage appears from recent events.

Heavy Baggage

Baggage begins with wild success and intense pleasure. Or with pain and failure. Whatever it’s origin, good or bad, it weighs us down. It makes us less nimble, less mobile. Less able to navigate in the moment.

In order to know your story you must take time to examine your baggage. It is part of the journey, and it can explain a lot.

Minor Damage, Major Trauma

I followed a driver along a twisting two lane in the dark of night. Suddenly a deer ran from the right shoulder of the road. It smashed into the driver’s car, hitting near the right front wheel. The driver swerved violently to the left, nearly losing control. Finally, he righted the car and continued on his way. The damage was minor.

I continued to follow. A few miles down the road, the driver again careened nearly out of control. For no apparent reason. Then it happened again, and again, and again.

Triggering Event

Finally, I saw the reason for the wild behavior. Every time the driver passed a road sign on the right shoulder of road, the reflective surface of the sign flashed in the headlights near his right front wheel. This triggered the memory of the recent deer collision and he over-reacted by instinct.

The damage had been minor but the trauma was major.

Mountain from a Mole Hill

Any over-reaction tells you that you are carrying baggage. Something from your past is putting you out of whack with present reality. Trauma can be the trigger. So can extreme pleasure.

The Smell of New Leather

A pre-teen girl longed for her Daddy. He served as a Navy Seal in war zones. After years of absence, he returned home unexpectedly. He met her at the entrance to her school and drove her home in a brand new luxury car. She never forgot the absolute magic of it. Everything was right with the world.

Years later, her father was killed in action. As she entered college, she impulsively bought a brand new luxury car. She had to give up her education to earn enough money to pay for it. The right car for her was a used car but she wanted that new car smell. And we know why. Baggage.

Letting Go

Once again, baggage weighs us down. Good or bad. It makes us less nimble, less mobile. Less able to navigate in the moment.

Repacking for Life

Have you examined your baggage? Are you blind to it? Maybe you don’t even know you have it.

Think about this: Do you sometimes operate on autopilot? Do you wonder why you sometimes do things that undermine your success? Things that weigh you down? Do you always say stuff you know better than to say? Do you repeat the same mistake again and again, like the car swerving in the road for no reason?

One Step Forward

Take note. This is your baggage. I encourage you to check it out right now. Make a list of your over-reactions, and look beneath them. They are pointing to important parts of yourself.

Remember, this is not about feeling bad and promising to do better. It is simply about understanding. You are a wonderful creature and you will outgrow your problems. You will eventually overcome the things that defeat you. For now, just look at yourself. Don’t do the self help thing. Just see yourself in a better mirror. That’s all.

To be continued…