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Letting Go of Our Garbage
Eye.nonymous wrote on the forum:
I had a disappointing set-back yesterday, even though it wasn't really a fall. But I really got down about it. I managed to pick myself up this morning though. I said to myself, "what happened yesterday is behind you, and there's nothing you can do about it. 'Today' is all you have; try to make the most of it."
Dov responds:
Thanks for dumping that here rather than carrying "yesterday" around with you today, Reb Eye.
It's funny, but it seems that actually witnessing others letting go of garbage they might otherwise cling to, makes it easier for me to give up my own crapola.
And for giving up my own, I'd like to share that there is a lady at my work who was on leave for about 2 months and today I noticed that she's back. I find her attractive, and she works down the open hallway from me all day long. Her image is all fine and good - for her... but of no use to me whatsoever. She's really none of my business. But in the past, I tended to clear out a little "cubicle" for her in my brain.... I need to let her go completely.
Nu. Completely? OK, I'll accept letting go of the obsession for today and not worry about "completely", or "forever".
All I really need to concern myself with is that she and a bazillion other pretty folks are in my little world for me to help them in some way, rather than to use them. How? It may never become clear to me, but hani kavshi d'Rachmono (the hidden ways of Hashem) are also none of my business.
That's all poshut.
So, with Hashem's help I will daven for her by name today, for her well-being, healthy and successful relationships with husband and children, lack of pain/suffering in this life, and then I'll ask Hashem to help me let go of any obsession I may have about her or her image.
Chances are that it'll be gone by then, anyhow. 
Happy and cheerful that you are not down any more,
Dov
Note from webmaster: I wonder if Hashem had as much Nachas Ruach from the Ketores in the Beis Hamikdash as he does from guys like Eye.nonymous and Dov being maktir their "garbage" on the mizbeach of their hearts... (As the Gemara in Sanhedrin brings from Rav Yehoshua Ben Levi, "whoever sacrifices his Yetzer, it is considered as if he brought all of the sacrifices!" ... And see here too!)