Leaving and Letting Go

“Letting go” seems to be a popular theme for me lately. This past year I had yet another of my writings published in a “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book–this particular collection was focused on the topic “Let It Go: 101 Stories of Forgiveness & Freedom”–and I’d also been making a point lately of letting go of stuff, people and pastimes that don’t serve me well, don’t feed my soul, don’t fuel my creativity, don’t allow me to be the best person I can be every day for the people I love.

Are you having a hard time getting into or sustaining a creative groove? Are you having trouble making room for your favorite pastimes because you’ve somehow been focusing your attention on things that have less value or that you have no control over? Is it time to let someone or something go?

I wrote the following poem of sorts a couple of weeks ago, reflecting on decisions I’ve had to make in the past that ultimately allowed me to move to higher ground… perhaps there’s something in it that resonates with you? Feel free to share in the comment section anything that comes to mind on this topic.

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LEAVING AND LETTING GO
by Susan Maddy J

Just because you leave them, doesn’t mean you don’t love them;
It may mean that you love them more than they can imagine.

You understand that the pain they have inside themselves
muddies their ability to love you better and treat you better.

You leave because you know you can’t fix “it”–that deep pain inside–
and it simply hurts too much to witness it.

You leave because it siphons your energy and keeps you from
fulfilling your own path of moving toward higher ground and beyond.

You leave because you honor their journey and because
you know it’s no longer your journey to travel with them.

You leave because you feel more whole than they do and still it’s not enough;
More wholeness awaits you and you’re eager to get there.
You’re eager to step into what scares you.
You’re eager to learn the next hard lesson that awaits you after this one.
You’re eager to stand alone so you not only know how that feels,
but that you also feel comfortable in it.

You do not leave them completely alone… you leave them alone with themselves
because you believe it might be time for them to learn to BE with themselves
so they may some day fully and authentically BE with someone else.

You leave because you fully know in your heart that their “someone else” is not you.
You leave with all the love you have for them;
you fully let them BE and fully LET THEM GO.

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Peace to you always,

Susan Maddy J.

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