No Vacancy

In response to “Role Models,” a piece I posted on http://www.thevuvclub.com/ on November 13th, a friend of the VuvClub, Jen, wrote that she too lived by the expressions of her grandma and she graciously shared with me her favorite of her Grandma Ruth-isms: “Don’t let anyone live rent-free in your brain.”

Jen, thanks for sharing!! The brilliance of this expression blew me away. I love it! It’s going to be my new mantra.

“Don’t let anyone live rent-free in your brain!”

It speaks to me. How many sleepless nights I could have avoided if I had embraced this philosophy earlier in life.

A friend, a foe, a colleague, a family member, a boss….through my life I have let each of these take over my head for a moment, a day, a week, two years!!!…fill it with doubt, or anger, insecurity, fantasy speeches that I believe will make them better people, make me feel better, make the world a better place....

I have spent time silently responding to these mind freeloaders that could be spent doing something useful…and now, thanks to Grandma Ruth, I am on the road to being done with that.

Others can visit my brain domain, inspire me, critique me, teach me, judge me…..and I will hear them. I will address what needs addressing, but then like any good visitor, they’ve got to go and I have to decide how I feel, how my behavior will be judged, how I want others to perceive me, what I can do and if the person in my head is unwilling or incapable of changing, to be at peace.

Life is short…and while I love sharing my heart with so many people, love sharing creative thoughts, ideas, jokes, philosophies, even fits of rage and sometimes, idle gossip….when I lay my head down at the end of the day….I only have space in my little brain for me and my dreams….

So thank you Grandma Ruth. I hope you are playing poker with Grandma Leona in the Brooklyn section of heaven, and to my Vuvs, what does “Don’t let anyone live rent free in your brain,” mean to you?

Find your mantra and write me at thevuvclub@verizon.net.