And this too shall pass. ~unknown
Everything in life is temporary: our highs and lows, successes and failures. We judge what gives us pleasure is better than what gives us disappointment and falsely think the good will last forever, so we are caught off guard when it doesn’t.
Living in the present is a struggle for most. We fixate on the past or the future, passing by what is now. Then, when we get to the end of the road, we realize we may have missed the beauty of the journey.
We take much of what we have in life for granted, wanting more. Unfortunately, when we live in the future, we rob ourselves of the gifts of the present.
The advantage of aging has given me a deep understanding of letting go. The older and more conscious I have become, and I witness this with friends and family, the more we realize that less truly is more. The transition to it may have come gradually for some and as an immediate realization for others, yet the satisfaction is the same. Letting go of beliefs, behaviors, judgment, and expectations comes peace.
The contentment is coupled with a state of being that allows us to be more in the here and now and less in the past and future. Perhaps some of it may be from knowing that each day is precious and that our days are numbered from the moment we are born until the last breath we take. The preciousness of the moment holds more value when we understand that this lifetime is finite and time is fleeting.
The glass is already broken speaks of the impermanence of life. If we accept something will break or a relationship will change, we are not paralyzed or surprised when it does. On the contrary, it may allow us to cherish what we have when it is in our lives and live in gratitude for all that we can enjoy. When we understand that change is inevitable, we are not immobilized when it happens. We know the snow will fall in the mountains in the winter and rivers will rise in the rain, so we were not shocked when it happened. Our family will pass, and our pets will most likely not outlive us. The day they pass will be sad, yet embracing the joys they bring daily reduces our saddeness.
Letting go is not just about getting rid of things or living a minimalist lifestyle. It is about the thoughts we hold that move us into a more mindful state. Changing the words we use or the repeated ideologies that keep us in a restricted mindset are keys to growth.
I can’t entirely agree when statements are made that people don’t change or you can’t teach a dog new tricks. On the one hand, it is true if we project that reality upon the person or animal. However, if we alter our thoughts about it, we too can change the reality.
It’s all about the let go, is a term I use when teaching people to ride their horses. The let go is the release; the letting go of the cue allows the adjustment to happen; the same holds true in life. We let go or release what is holding us back to move to the next level of awareness. The constant is acknowledging that adjustments are continuously needed as we continually grow. We may have small let-go’s regularly when we allow those things that no longer serve us to be released. Sometimes, the let-go may be enormous, often when we have an epiphany or a life-changing event. Big or small, they are all valuable.
As time speeds up, it benefits us to lighten up, let go of the burden of the past, and enjoy each experience that comes into our lives, for each one is a blessing of growth. Nothing in nature stands still, so why should we?
The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it,move with it,and join the dance.
