Hanging On or Letting Go

Today my kid helped me realize something important.

We were working in the backyard.  Rocks, broken bricks and bits of trash had been collected and assembled in a special creation and now it was time to put things back in order.  To one of us it was the obvious next step, to the other it was to disassemble a life’s crowning achievement.  We began to talk about the difference between reality and the way we feel about reality.  We also talked about the possibility of being emotionally crushed by something we don’t want to accept or being freed to enjoy what was, by accepting what is and letting go. [Side note to parents: do you ever feel like you could use a double helping of the lecture you're currently giving your kid or is it just me?]

In a few weeks a family very dear to us will be moving to another city.  We didn’t choose this and we’re pretty sad about it.  Nevertheless, they will move and we’ll have a choice to make.  We can mope and agonize over what we’ve lost or we can accept this change and enjoy the closeness we’ve experienced.  Agonizing will mean future interactions will only increase the pain.  Accepting will make future interactions a treat; a sweet reminder of what we had and a rekindling of what we have.

As I’ve reflected on this today I’ve realized there are other changes occurring around me that I’ve been slow to accept.  Hanging on hasn’t been effective at preserving the past and it’s not facilitating the life I desire.  I’m going to start letting go of those things.  Instead of being crushed by loss, I’m going to be thankful for what was and the new things that will be.

What do you need to let go of?

Oh, and if you see me mopey in the coming weeks, ask me if I need to have a talk with my kid!