One of the things I talk a lot about, especially in my Ritual & Ceremony class that focuses on forgiveness, is learning to let go and to be able to make peace with it. It is hard letting go of the things you have been carrying your whole lifetime, and letting go and making peace with it, are two very different things with a lot of space between them.
I have been working on this for a very long time; I am a work in progress.
My focus toward healing, is the constant reminder of the choices I have made since childhood, and into adulthood. Some of my past behavior is a direct result of allowing other people to determine my own self-worth. It took me a very long time to understand why... why would I allow someone else to decide who I am, what I am capable of, or where my place is in this world? That is what I ask myself a lot, especially lately.
Working in end-of-life care, I often find myself present for the guilt, regret, and anger people feel as they are near death. Realizing how much they have held on too, wishing so badly they let it go, and having to face the difficult reality of how much time has been wasted. The thing about death and dying is that time takes on a whole new meaning, and it is far more precious and fragile when you have very little left. And you are reminded of all the things you should have said or done or let go of.
Part of letting go of the past, of the things people have said or done, or of relationships that are not healthy for you, is being able to find peace within to accept it and move on.
It is about learning to live your life without the heavy weight you have grown so accustomed to carrying.
It is about learning to move forward without that person, or people, who have weighed you down.
It is about learning to cut the ties to the concrete blocks that have been tied to your ankles... and learning to walk again without the weight.
It is incredibly freeing, but it takes work to get there.
I take so many lessons from the patients I am with as their life ends; most importantly is the reminder of how fragile and precious life is, and how truly spectacular time is when we use it wisely and stop wasting so much of it.
We get to decide what we let in, what we hold on to, and what we let go of. Their bad behavior, their hurtful words or actions, are about them... let it go. Find peace within you, to accept your life on your terms, surrounding yourself with compassion, kindness, support, and encouragement from the people who have earned the right to be present in your space.
Make better use of your time.
We only get one chance at this life... let go of anything that is blocking your view of the beauty that awaits you. Trust me... the view is pretty sweet when your vision has become clear.
xo
Gabby
Photo credit: I would like to thank Christopher Eather for this photo. He is incredibly talented and captures some gorgeous shots. You can find his work on FB: "Prints Like NO Other"
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