paul hollifield 8.0

After deleting a bundle of junk mail from my in-box the following thoughts struck me. I have never understood why people are so annoyed with receiving junk mail, whether by Internet or postal service. I guess ever since I was in school at Lee University, I have enjoyed checking and receiving mail, from anyone or anywhere. It always seemed to be a box full of possibilities. They say that “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure” and I guess following that logic explains my affinity for junk mail. If something doesn’t appeal to me I just throw it away. It really doesn’t take that much effort and yet somehow people seem infuriated with mail that isn’t highly relevant to their situation at that very moment. On the other hand, with every piece of solicitation that comes into a box, whether virtual or real, there comes real opportunities. If you don’t get junk mail, you don’t get the opportunities.

One summer, our family of six spent 7 nights in Orlando, in the middle of summer. We stayed a two really nice resorts and only paid $90 bucks for all seven nights. Sure, we had to sit through a couple of 90 minute presentations and find new and creative ways to say “no” to every single “manager” that came with a better offer, but it was well worth it. All from opportunities that came because I filled out something somewhere, got on some mailing list, and then received a ton of worthless mail that didn’t appeal to me at all.

I know I am the exception to the rule, but it just doesn’t bother me to receive mail, or a call, or an e-mail that isn’t relevant. I have learned to accept the possibilities that are good and throw out, hang up, or delete the ones that aren’t. Maybe if we looked at all of the interruptions of life as possibilities instead of annoyances, we would at least not be as frustrated as we walk out this journey.