A Word To The Wise

Up in the dusty attic I scrimmaged through my Grandmothers old chest. I didn't find much. An old hat here, a newspaper article there, some love letter from an old admirer, some war photos sent from Grandpa. Nothing of terrible interest.

The contents of the chest lay beside me on the floor. I looked into the chest, now empty, sat back, and sighed. I went through this chest every year, looking for something new, an old treasure map, an article about thieves hiding jewelery somewhere, but I never found anything new.

I began piling the items back into the chest. The hat on the left, the war photos in the pouch on the underside of the lid, letters galore in the box in the right corner. As I picked up an old newspaper article from 1922 about the town festival, an old, yellowed and fragile, envelope slipped out from between the pages.

I picked it up and flipped it over in my hands. A Word To The Wise was written on the front of the envelope in a fine script. I flipped the envelope over again, the seal was already broken. I put a finger under the flap and flipped it up.

Inside was a single piece of paper, also yellow and fragile. I unfolded it and began to read.


Dear,

I know Im hard to hear these days. But please listen while I am strong. I need to tell you something, there's something you need to learn.

Feelings are confusing things. They control you in a way. The compel you to do things you would never think of doing. And sometimes you just want to hang onto them. You want to make that feeling last. But what you need to learn, is to let them slip away. If you feel them going, set them free, do not grasp after them, do not hold on. For if you do, you are holding onto your past, and you will never move along.

This is one lesson that you must learn.
This is one lesson you must apply.

When you feel you cannot hear me. Please focus, do your best. For I am in there somewhere, hidden in your chest. Clear all the distractions aside, and give me just a minute. I can help you on your way, I can lead you on your path. You may not always be able to do it alone. The ones always there, are the ones who will help you along. They will let you rest on them when you are weary, they will pick you up when you fall down, and they won't say a word.

Keep those ones.

Listen to me I will help you along. I promise to keep you going if you hear me. Please do not fight me if I wish change upon you. And do not fight me if I wish your life to stay its way. Please do not fight me at all, for I am your ally in this game. You may not always understand, I may confuse you at times. But please place your faith in me, and trust I will do you well.

There are many more lessons to learn. But its time for me to fade away. I will teach you when I am again, bright and strong. Until then, live away.

Sincerely,
Your Heart