Gathering: Homespun Essays from Beech Tree Lane

Sometimes it is best to leave the mess

“Some trash is better left on the floor.” That phrase captured my attention and made me check myself. I’ve long been a proponent of picking up my messes. If I drop food, I may even retrieve it and continue eating, though that does depend on my hunger pains and the consistency of the food dropped. I drop a napkin in a restaurant and it floats to the back corner under the booth, I feel compelled to contort and retrieve it. Granted, I don’t reuse it, unless necessity dictates, but alas, I’ve cleaned up my mess. This compulsion, though, has often led me to trying to clean up messes I did not make. I’ve learned, that’s not really my job. New rule: if you can’t catch it before it hits the floor, let it go. What are we wasting our time trying to fix? What can we do instead of trying to fix this thing? To read my essay, Leave the Mess, purchase a copy of Gatherings, Homespun Essays from Beech Tree Lane; and thank you!