Oh oh letting go
There’s nothing in the way now,
Oh letting go, there’s room enough to fly…
~ Suzy Bogguss*
The heart wrenching song, “Letting Go,” by Suzy Bogguss has been wafting through my mind all day. The song is about a mother-daughter transition, but I’ve been putting a different spin on the song today as I face (yet again) the fact that life is a series of lettings go.
For the past week (and probably into the next week), I’ve been moving some of my belongings — furniture, rugs, lamps, boxes of random “stuff” — from the place they’ve been stored for the past 3 years into various new places. Some items I will put to use in my current home, some will go into the basement space I’m creating. Some are being given away. And some I hope to make millions of dollars with at a yard sale (okay, perhaps the dust and sweat is making me delusional…). I’m sort of doing my own self-hosted version of that TLC show, “Clean Sweep.” (But without the cool re-design.)
I have limited storage space — so it’s all about editing down to: What is really really important to me? And why? (And if I cannot find space for it in my current home, how can I best protect and cherish it until later?)
Today it’s all about risking letting go — finally — of an old dream that failed. Some dreams do that, you know. Fail. Now, I’ve adopted beautiful new dreams, much more resonant with who I am now, deams that make me very happy. But unhinging from the old dream seems to come in layers and pieces for me. I thought I had already peeled away those particular onion layers… and yet, here I am again, scraping back new layers — letting this reunion with my material possessions rekindle some old feelings I can’t wish away, but must experience again for a bit. It’s not at all a big drama — just a light, but noticeable, dusting of melancholy.
So I will go about my task today… reminding myself of the old dream and why it didn’t work out… letting myself be sad about that… letting myself be mad about that… and using physical exertion to aid in letting go of the feelings and items that no longer serve me, and more importantly, do not fit into the landscape of the beautiful new dreams I am living into now and that stretch out down the road ahead. And I know this process will create more space in my heart for the beautiful new dreams to unfold.
As Suzy says, “It’s never easy letting go.” But it’s a necessary part of life… much like the little flower petals letting go of the dogwood trees to drift across and decorate my lawn on this breezy Spring day.
*Music video of “Letting Go” (Warning: this is a 3-hanky song!)
Martha Carnahan coaches entrepreneurs, leaders and marketers in the professional services world. She has noticed that taking risks, whether bold and scary or seemingly small (and easy to avoid) creates a fresh awareness of the joy, audacity and quiet reverence of a full-spectrum life. Its not just about doing more stuff its about hanging out more in the sweet spot of life. Visit Martha's website.
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You are light – thank-you for loving yourself to allow the light to shine through so I can see mine. Thank-you!
Martha,
Thanks for letting your FB friends know when and where you’re posting. I’m getting ready to let go of the familiar and embark on uncharted waters. Your post has given me a degree of freedom and insight.
Aw Martha, thanks for sharing your heart and wisdom. It’s the letting go of old dreams that allows us to fully experience our new ones. Beautiful and touching post.
Martha – I was just listening to Suzy this morning on iTunes! Freaky…!
Thanks for pointing out that there is still a grieving process to go through for those things you say no to, even though you’re choosing in favor of something better. Ignoring those feelings of loss or “might have been” can detract from the awesomeness of what you’re saying “yes” to, so much better to feel your way through them and be done.
Yes, you are, my dear. Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability and strength and beauty, as well as your beautiful, new dreams.
This is so deeply true, Martha, as you eloquently describe.
I’m discovering that this is a much more important “skill” to learn than I ever realized. Without it we restrict our ability to receive what life offers and that is hard to notice. Not being afraid to stare the “old longing” in the face is the first step, too, I think. To let yourself feel it again and talk to it – demand why it is still around. Thank you for this thoughtful piece, Martha.
You all warm my heart! Truly, reading these comments uplifts me. I’m still working on the purging and letting go, but the feelings have shifted noticeably toward: This is exciting, to be clearing space and getting rid of stuff and making room for the NEW! I’ve turned a corner, and your support has made a difference.