What "My Ugly Box" is all about.

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We all have them. Those bad memories of a breakup or divorce, getting fired from a job, negative things people have said or done to you or you have said or done to others. Perhaps you were abused in some way and blame yourself. It could even be as simple as secretly hoping someone would fail at something out of petty jealousy.

Regardless of the source, these bad memories, negative feelings, regrets, self doubts, and hurt feelings can weigh a person down, preventing them from being truly happy. We at "My Ugly Box" have placed all of these things into a single category: "Ugly Thoughts". No matter how much you talk to someone about these feelings, sometimes they don't go away. They just keep nagging at you.

You may have tried writing in diaries, talking to friends or family, or even therapy. These are all good, healthy things, and we strongly suggest continuing those practices if it helps. But if talking about it is not enough, we are offering you a positive way of "doing" something about it. A box. An "Ugly" box.

We are not talking about a golden box with hinges and a lock that you will want to keep forever. No, we are talking about a plain wooden box. This box has a thin slot and is sealed shut.

Each time you have an "Ugly Thought", and you get a private moment, write EXACTLY what you are thinking on a piece of paper. All of it, every detail. Don't hold ANYTHING back. Keep in mind your "My Ugly Box" is named that way for a reason. Because it belongs to you and you alone and, unlike a diary, only you will ever see what you wrote. So the more honest you can be, the better you will feel. Then read over what you wrote as if it were the last time you will ever see it, because it will be. Then, when you are ready, slip the paper into the box. Once you have placed it into the box, your "Ugly Thought" is gone. And since the box is sealed, you can't get it back. You can no longer hash over what is on that paper.

Then once a year, say, New Year's Eve, or when your box is full, find a safe place and burn it! Light a match to it and watch it burn. As the smoke rises to the sky, it will take your "Ugly Thoughts" with it. Forever gone!