Years ago when I was very ill I realized that all the friends I had been carrying around in my heart for so long had left the building. It broke my heart when I realized they had vacated my life long ago and I had to work on letting them go from my heart. Illness can separate the wheat from the chaff. I admit it took some time, but I have accepted the loss and I am fine with it now. That is the important thing. The feelings of disappointment, sadness, and longing are the baggage that I am talking about.
Carrying around a memory of something that once was and is no longer is not a good thing. As hard as it is, we must move on to other things and leave the past behind. Forgive those people and their actions. It will make us happier in the long run, moving forward without that negative baggage.
I am proud to say that those who have hurt me in the past are not thought of very often and when I do look back, as we seniors do, I try to remember the fun things- not the sad ones. I am living in my old home town now, but I plan to leave because the memories are too numerous to dispel. Too much old baggage!!! There are many good things that I will allow myself to remember, but those sad, bad ones I do not want to remember. I have moved on emotionally and plan to do so physically.
So my purpose in this composition is to say it is OK, in fact, pretty good, to get rid of all that harmful baggage that is in your life. You need room for more baggage, hopefully some good stuff. I have cleaned my house and I am ready to add to it.