Although I don't recall where or when I first heard
these words, from personal observation, I've
found it to be true ... in fact, most people seem
to collect more than just one something ...

It is a constant fascination to me, the combination
of things people collect ... the person who collects
ceramic figurines might have shelves of empty
boxes, and someone who collects crystal might
have stacks of little plastic containers ... I'll
admit that boxes of varying sizes come in handy
at Christmas time, and plastic containers are
great for leftovers, but I also wonder sometimes
just how many is 'enough' ...

It's so much more than mere possessions,
though ... each of us collects moments of
happiness and joy ... memories of first love,
of children born, friends ... the things so
special to us .... but we also have a tendency
to collect less positive things ... old hurts,
grudges, anger ... some would say this is
simply human nature, but why must it be
this way ...

I think about beauty ... the sparkling crystal,
or the delicate figurines ... the loveliness that
makes us catch our breath with wonder ... and
the empty boxes and containers that can be
and are useful to a point but can so easily
accumulate to little more than clutter ...

Everyone collects something ... we each
collect that which is valuable to us, that
which we hold dear ... and how much more
peaceful the world would be if people 'let go'
of the inner clutter of hatred, anger, and
prejudice, choosing instead to 'collect'
and enhance the positive, bright aspects
of their own inner light ...

© Nilla
April 2003