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Success — My earliest memory is a pretty bad one. I was called out by a substitute teacher in kindergarten for talking during story time.
You could argue that, in the grand scheme of things, getting in trouble at 5 isn’t that big of a deal. But the story, and how it’s burned into my brain forever, speaks to a shared and brutal human reality: We cling to the bad moments—getting busted in kindergarten, botching a speech, getting broken up with the day after the prom, feeling wordlessly judged by someone in richer clothes, whiffing on a 3-2 count in the bottom of the ninth—with more force than we afford the good ones. Negative memories are monstrous beasts, gross and sticky octopuses that attach themselves with ferocious tenacity to the present. Science, Eastern religion, elections and all eight Star Wars movies prove that negative powers aren’t easily fought. Only the strongest and most disciplined minds can train themselves to destroy the darkness with light.
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Jeff Vrabel 
February 21st, 2017 at 8:47 pm
Good reading! I have found that bad memories make great stories; funny stories even. And I have some doosies. I am an optimist for sure. I’m high on life; even the sides that suck. We do have a choice!
Sometimes I have to watch it, especially around people who are having a difficult time dealing with the more positive sides of life. But, I prefer to keep my vibration up, rather than down. Thankfully, I’m not the only one.
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February 22nd, 2017 at 11:07 am
Thanks for reading, Sparky – J.
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February 22nd, 2017 at 12:06 pm
You are very welcome!
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