The Hysterical Society

Disclaimer I: Goodwill stores, junk shops, and tag sales are used solely for the purpose of demonstration. I’m an advocate of not buying more new stuff.

Disclaimer II: By You, Your, Our, and Daughter . . . I mean I, Me, Mine, or Son.

Ask anyone a question about dying and most likely you’ll hear, “I want to leave a legacy.”

It’s not really a matter of wanting to, or not. 

You will leave.

And you will leave a legacy.

You will also inherit one. Not everyone will inherit a monetary legacy. Not everyone will leave/inherit tangible objects such as mother's china, grandma's jewelry, handmade quilts or fertile farmland. Not everyone inherits a priceless legacy. Two things are certain though; you will inherit one and you will leave one.

There should be character trait tag sales or 2nd time around shops. Places where you can take the crap you don’t want anymore. The junk you don’t want to pass on to your children’s children. Secrets that weigh heavy on your heart and habits, which suck the oxygen from the very depth of your lungs. Deep-rooted patterns like never thinking you’re, skinny enough, rich enough, or good enough. Confidential habits like how much TV you watch or thoughts of suicide.

I heard a stand-up comic making fun of a good will store surveillance camera. His punch line, “Like who’s gonna shoplift a metal walker with a plastic toilet seat attached?”

Who wants to go shopping for a crappy personality?

It’s kinda like the difference between a vintage antique shop and a junk store.
The personality antiques shop, houses those rare gems, which light up a room by just walking into it. The kind of people that know you, really know you. Not just a surface concern---like a beauty queen riding a float and waving as if she knows people on every inch of the parade route. But the kind of people who lovingly tell you when you have a piece of spinach in your teeth or your attitude could use an adjustment. The kind of people who care, really care. Not the kind that throw out frivolous compliments, because they want you to like them or are actually fishing for a return one. The kind I’m talking about possess vintage traits and will listen along with hearing, care along with giving, and love along with nothing.

People usually hang on to their priceless items and then pass them along for posterity. They dispose of the junk. Oh, if it only were the same for our tired old habits and downright sin in our lives.

My sister LOVES to go junkin’ in the north suburbs of Chicago. The night before garbage day, when people put stuff out by the curb, it’s free for the taking. If you can haul it away, it’s yours. The reason it is at the curb is that the owner doesn’t want it anymore.
Curbs and the trash is where the stuff nobody wants, ends up.

If only we could drop off our fakeness, selfishness, control freakness, shame, critical or judgmental attitudes, anger, bitterness, and disrespect. What if once and for all we dumped off all our prejudices and label making guns? If it were only as easy as stuffing our body image into an extra strong garbage bag, tying the handles and never thinking (or talking) about it again. Even though the experts call alcoholism an inherited disease it’s still a choice. AA, and other G, R and X rated addictions are simply a choice. It’s up to you, whether you will buy something else you can’t afford, disrespect your parents, take another drink, never apologize, or abuse one more child.

What do you think the next generation will want from your life? If finding yourself is more important than being faithful, that’s your legacy. If you gossip more than you build-up, that’s your legacy. If you think more highly of yourself than you do of others, that’s your legacy. If you worry more about a messy room than an unclean heart, that’s your legacy. If you care more about what people think than how you need to change. That’s a legacy. If you follow the crowd rather than living strong for your creator that’s your legacy. If you emotionally neglect, spiritually fail, or physically abuse, then that’s your legacy.

It’s simple. If you eat too much, you get fat. Too bad there isn’t liposuction for bad parenting practices, or a surgical procedure for reducing selfishness. Even with all of today’s technology, a doctor can’t do grace or faith augmentations. If you don’t get rid of the junk in your life, it will eventually end up devouring your soul. As it is with the tangible stuff, you can’t take it with you, so it will automatically be left for others to deal with.

To the younger generation:
Look for ways to pattern your life and grow your legacy at rare vintage personality stores. If you’ve been hurt and feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, search out a precious gem or a faithful antique to emulate. As my niece said upon learning she was invited to a girl’s party for her cousin’s fiancé, “I can always use another godly woman in my life.”

To the older generation:
I love the concept and frivolity of the ladies at the red hat society. But I think we need to examine our hearts and watch for red flags. Do some personality house cleaning, so to speak. This leaving a legacy thing is a monumental task. Find a daughter, adopt one, or use your own—then leave them an exquisite legacy. The tombstone is going to need an epitaph. Life is short and tomorrow is garbage day. What do you need to haul out to the road?