Letting Go

Letting go of something, whether it’s a bad marriage, toxic friend, un-healthy habit, dead-end job, or long-held grudge, can mean digging deep to find the courage and strength to make positive changes. It’s easier sometimes to just give in or give up and succumb to whatever life throws at us; yet we know it’s not the best choice in the long run.

One of the hardest as a parent is letting go of our children. We know that we never really let go of them, even when they are grown adults with kids of their own, they’ll always be our babies. And there are times when we still wish we could just hug them and make it better. But, we do have to let go of them eventually so they can become the adults they are meant to be.  It means evolving into an adult relationship with them and letting them take responsibility for their lives. It’s still okay to make them a home cooked meal, ask about their friends and remind them to drive safe...after all, we don't have to let go of everything!

Moving on from a difficult relationship, dead-end job or long-time routine can be one of the hardest things to do. Everyone gets stuck sometimes, but if it lasts, over time we end up in a rut; that's when it's time to really think about what and how to let go. It can mean moving away from what has been familiar for years, taking on the work of finding another job or a new group of friends. It gets harder to make these changes as we get older, have less energy and become more set in our ways. 

But, change can start in small steps, like taking a class in something you've always wanted to learn; finding out about volunteer opportunities, often it’s a place to meet new people and develop a connection to community; consider joining a church if your spiritual side is calling; give some time to a cause close to your heart; plan a trip to visit a friend or relative you've been meaning to see; try yoga, join or gym or get outside every day; tap in to your creative side and learn a new craft; find someone to talk to who will really listen, whether a caring friend or compassionate professional.

I don' think we are meant to stay in a miserable or angry state – no matter what the situation is. There are no perfect anything’s in this life, yet we can make choices that are more likely to make us happy, and once we do, we often wonder why we took so long! Happy Trails...