The Benefit of a Bad Memory

Good Morning DearHearts,

Most mornings I stop by the neighborhood Dunkin Donuts on my way to work. Usually the same tall young man is behind the counter to take my order. Each day I order a large un-sweet ice tea with extra ice.

This morning I saw the young man and rather than giving my order I said, “I’ll have the usual.” Instead of him smiling knowingly at my comment he said, “ I have a bad memory so I don’t remember your order.” Okay.

I gave him my usual order and while I was paying he added, “It’s easy for me to be nice to the customers because I don’t remember anything”. My thought as I picked up my tea to leave was “WOW!”

This young mans’ confession was reminiscent of “Groundhog Day”, but he was not the Bill Murray character, he was everyone else in the movie. If you remember (and I am sure you do) each morning all of the town’s population except for Bill Murray’s character had no recollection of the previous days events. It was easy for each of them to be nice because nothing un-nice had ever occurred. This is the demonstration of Forgiveness. Nothing happened.

My young Dunkin server is the embodiment of a forgiving soul. If a customer is less than nice on Monday, this will not interfere with the service received on Tuesday. Nothing happened.

Each customer that he serves is involved (knowingly or not) in a Holy Instant experience. For however long the encounter, the employee is only there to assist to the best of his ability. He requires nothing of the customer, except payment at the end. The customer’s request is fulfilled and then he goes on with the day ahead.

In this world having a bad memory or losing our memory is associated with Fear, because it is a symptom of illness. However, in the case of my Dunkin server the inability to remember is the most Loving thing he can do. He does not build up any grievances surrounding his customers or his job. Each new day is a pristine mirror that only reflects the kindness of customers and the promise of a joyful day. What a wonderful way to experience each day, always in the Now.

The awareness of Being Present, with or without memory loss, is a characteristic of the Awakening Process. The only memory required is one of God.

“The memory of God comes to the quiet mind. It cannot come where there is conflict, for a mind at war against itself remembers not eternal gentleness.”
T. Chap 23 I:1-2

May we all have a Gentle Day.

In Love, Light and Peace,
Janet Weissman
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