Letting Go

I love it when I receive the right message at the right time. What's even better is when you don't realize that you are looking for direction, and then it lands right in your lap—or, in my case, in my email inbox.

Last week I opened up an email from the  Waking Up app and read the following quote:

    " Everything you do will have a last time" 

My automatic response was to start thinking about all the negative connotations that these few words could have, centering on feelings of loss and sadness around the changes that take place outside of our control.  I was then able to move towards viewing this sentiment in a more positive light, focusing on changes I have been able to control, like the last time I took a drink, the last time I told myself a negative story, the last time I accepted less than what I deserve in a relationship.  It felt empowering to know that despite so many factors in our lives feeling outside our control, we can and often do make powerful changes in many other areas.

This quote also brought forward a lyric from the song "Closing Time" by Semisonic:

    "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end"

I have always loved that phrase, as it speaks to the cyclical nature of life and the constant evolution we are going through even in small and subtle ways.  Lately, I have been making decisions about the future trajectory of my life, feeling this sense of moving away from comfortable spaces into new unknowns, and experiencing all of the second-guessing that goes with change.  These quotes have helped me remember that all comfort is born from discomfort, and both are an inevitable part of growth.

Forrest Gump said life was like a box of chocolates, but I like to think of it as a set of monkey bars, and movement forward requires us to reach towards something new and release something old.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Solar Return Reflections

 As I embark on a new solar return, I am compelled to reflect on the year that is closing behind me. Exercises like these often have us remembering the big wins or struggles, the notable changes and shifts that have taken place, the happenings that are impossible to ignore. And while all of those items are important to note, savour, and pay attention to, I find myself drawn to the smaller moments in time. The almost imperceptible yet impactful catalysts that are most often responsible for growth.  What I find interesting about those tiny agitators is the amount of pain and discomfort they often create as they push us to respond. Like the grain of sand in our shoe that will cause a blister if we don't stop to remove it, ignoring these pain points only leads to longer-lasting, deeper dis-ease if not attended to. It was during a visit with a dear friend this past week that this point was driven home for me. I was describing to her a feeling of overwhelm I had been dealing with (o...
Read more

Letting Go

 This past weekend, I helped my eldest son as he prepared to take the next big step in his life's adventures.  It felt bittersweet to watch as he packed up the room in his apartment, in anticipation of setting up a new room in a new city in the near future.  I have felt proud of him over the past few months as he has navigated many unknowns and new situations with a sense of certainty and enthusiasm for what lies ahead.  Deep down, I marvelled at his ability to let go, to embrace the new opportunities being presented while letting go of the life he had been establishing over the past couple of years.  Thinking back to when I was his age, I am not sure that I would have had the ability to make these same decisions so easily.  Sure, I have had my fair share of tough choices and have navigated change as I have journeyed through life. Still, I have often felt a sense of dis-ease when it comes to letting go of what is or has been to make room for what might be....
Read more

Cheer Stations

 Yesterday, I ran my fifth full marathon, my first in two years.  The idea felt daunting at first - I hadn't forgotten how all-encompassing the training could feel, spanning sixteen weeks and requiring hundreds of kilomteters to be travelled simply to complete those last 42.2.  And yet, there I was, signing up and taking on the work. Training went well - the weeks seemed to pass more quickly than I expected them to, and despite a slightly cranky hamstring, my body and mind adapted to the workouts and didn't put up roadblocks along the way.  Getting up and getting out for those early morning runs and long weekend runs became routine, and something I looked forward to.  Especially the long runs that had me crossing the city instead of sticking to very well-worn routes from previous training blocks.  Friends started to inquire about the big day, and I noticed that many of them seemed to be more excited about the race than I was.  With it not being my firs...
Read more