The Art of Letting Go

Well, it has been some time since I've posted. Through the chaos of moving, new classes, and adjusting to all the new things that begin in the fall, I've been kept pretty busy. This semester I'm really working on easing my way back into school. For those who don't know, I took off spring semester due to chronic daily headaches, so I've been on quite the journey so far in my short 20 years of life, and can't wait to see what the rest holds. However, my point is I took spring semester off to get better, so I could actually do the work required of a nursing student. So where I was in my program left me kind of stuck taking electives this semester. I have nutrition (required for my program), Spanish, Hip Hop Aerobics, Pilates, and Holistic Nursing: Therapeutic Touch.

I've come to realize this semester is really giving me an opportunity to take care of myself. Specifically, through my therapeutic touch class. The overall theme of the class is we need to be able to take care of ourselves in order to help others to heal themselves in their illness. As a part of this class we had to complete a self assessment and choose a mindfulness practice to work on throughout the semester. I chose letting go. I've always held onto things. My past has formed who I am, and I hold my memories very dear to my heart. I often re-live moments of my life over and over and over - sometimes cherishing the good memories, sometimes relishing in the pain of the old ones. And sometimes I dwell in something I wish I could go back and change. This summer I had to tell once of my friends they needed to be gone from my life because they were causing me to emotionally be hurt repeatedly and I was allowing unnecessary distress in my life because of this relationship. Now, I keep wanting to go back to this, to not do it or to do it differently or to contact this person asking if we can be friends again, but really what I need to do is let it be. let it go. So I haven't learned much yet, other than this practice is a moment to moment practice. Often times I have to take it one moment at a time, take a deep breath, calm myself down, and remind myself that it was the right decision.

The art of letting go - that's exactly what it is - an art. It takes practice, each day, reminding yourself that it's okay - the past is the past, learn from it, but leave it in the past. As I continue on this journey of letting go, I will fill you in on what I learn, but for now this is all I've got.

Peace, love, and blessings of God to you!