Several years back, we converted a mostly unused playroom into a bedroom. We sorted through the mounds of toys, games, puzzles, Lego bricks, stuffed animals, and various random bits of the boys’ childhood that filled the room, placing the mass into bins, boxes, and bags to either keep, donate, or throw away.
Deciding that a broken toy belonged in the trash was easy, but choosing between keeping or donating a perfectly good toy was challenging, especially for me.
When I picked up a Rescue Heroes figure, I didn’t see a preschool toy. I saw my two little boys playing side by side, creating an action-adventure scene, and a younger version of myself joining the fun. I could hear the words and melody of the theme song from the Rescue Heroes videos we watched together back then.
Whether it was a Thomas train or a Pokemon toy, each item transported me to a cherished moment in the past. It was overwhelming. In the end, I kept the vast majority of the items, deciding to deal with them later.
Although the bedroom conversion happened years ago, I’m embarrassed to admit there’s still an area of our home cluttered with the boxed-up playroom. My delayed decisions then are a source of stress now. By not fully dealing with the task at hand, my past self actually punished my future self.
Decisions have consequences, and making decisions can be challenging. It’s very tempting to avoid them. Believe me, I know. But not making a decision has consequences too. Each choice you make, or don’t make, today affects your future. You can position yourself to grow or set yourself up to stumble. The choice is yours.
The next time you’re tempted to put off a decision because it feels uncomfortable, I encourage you to think about your future self. Be kind to that person. Make a choice today that you will be thankful for tomorrow.
The inspiring true story of a woman who learned to redefine what it means to be broken.
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