Sunday, March 22, 2009

Taking out the trash...

So a little less than 4 years ago, at the end of summer 2005, the elder's quorum I was in was approached by one of it's members.
The conversation went as follows:

GUY- "So for the past few months I have been taking out the girls trash every Sunday night."
ELDERS- "Umm... Really?"
GUY- "I have done it because the girls sometimes feel lonely and sad and this shows that somebody cares for them."
ELDERS- "... "
GUY- "And I am leaving for graduate school in (insert some school I don't remember the name of here) and I am looking for your help in helping this continue."
ELDERS- "(Anxious shuffle)"
GUY- "So who is willing to help this out?"
ELDERS- "... "
GUY- "Anybody?"
ELDERS- "..."
GUY- "ANYBODY?"
ELDERS- " ... "
TRAVIS- "I guess I will do it THIS week..."
GUY- "Great! Thanks!"

So I went out that night and took out the girl's trash and it wasn't so bad.  
The next Sunday the guy asked again if somebody would do it.  Again the elders quorum silence and I volunteer again.  
This time I notice a change in myself and in the way that my week goes.  It is much nicer.
I continue to take out the girl's trash every Sunday and I continue to feel the uplift-ness that it brings to my life.  
Now it is almost 4 years later and I am still taking out the trash.  
I have involved my roommates Brian and Jesse and they help weekly now.
I have also neglected taking it out for a couple months because I want to spend that time with my wonderful girlfriend, Becky.  (though the responsibilities have been carried out by Jesse)
But, today I took the trash out again and it felt good.  It helped me feel serviceable again since it is so very easy to be selfish now.  I also was able to stop and talk to some friends that I have also neglected to talk to.  
So thanks to trash, I feel better about myself, I want to help more people, and the girl's apartments are that much more clean.  
Thanks trash.

2 comments:

David and Carol Pitcher said...

You have always wanted to help people in the most unusual ways. Thanks for being thoughtful. Love ya! Mom

Kylie said...

We appreciate this so much! You guys are so wonderful to do this. I'll miss this next year, not just because I'll have to take the trash out myself :), but because I won't get to see you guys as much!