Burn or Keep

Today I am wearing one of my most comfortable shirts. The problem is that it hurts me to wear this shirt. I have debated throwing it out a few times, but something in me always prevents me from doing it. Now that I'm typing about it, another shirt has just come to mind that hurts me more to wear. I've only worn that shirt once but it is most definitely not going to ever be burned or taken away. Sadly enough (the phrase of the week) I have a drawer full of shirts like the one on my back. When you coach middle school sports you end up with quite a few t-shirts. This one in particular is older but one of my favorites. The memories that are associated with this shirt are bittersweet, but a big part of who I am today. It reminds me of my roots in this chosen profession. Like all trees, they sometimes have to be trimmed back or replanted. It hurt to be uprooted but my new soil gave me the strength to not abandon my tree altogether. Now I am looking at new soil yet again. This new soil seems a little rocky but I think I can carry some good nutrients from my previous soil into this new ground. No matter where I'm planted for the rest of my career I'll always carry a little of the soil from each place in me. That is why I can't burn or get rid of these shirts. They represent that soil and many more good times than bad were had at that particular place. So I will continue to wear my shirts, with not so much pride as before, but with comfort that I did good things there. Hopefully somebody is wearing this shirt themselves on occasion and will remember how much I care about them and would give them the shirt off my back if only they would ask.