January 5, 2016: Day 2 & Letting Go

Someone wrote me and said that they had just found my blog, and had read it all.  I went back to see what I had written.  I was pleasantly surprised.  Much of it still holds true today.  I was reminded how important it is for me to write and connect - with myself if no one else...remembering to stay in the "present space" can be - well, not really difficult, but perhaps a difficult habit to establish.  I was disappointed, however, to see that many of the pictures were no longer good.  Not to worry.  I have another idea.

Today was my second day on the job.  I am still in the midst of cleaning things.  Today, I let go of many books that had been left on the shelves.  Tomorrow, I will be looking at some binders that have been left.  In a way it is good - I have no history to these things.  My mind is fresh.  I can let go - and then ask someone whether or not anything needs to be kept. 

And then there is all of my own "stuff."  Problem.  I DO have a connection to much of what I brought, and I did not have the time to discern what to bring and what not to bring to this new place.  One of my wall-hangings asks a question: In the end, how well did you live?  How well did you love?  How well did you learn to let go?  Interestingly enough, I found this quote and a variation attributed to both Buddha and the Dalai Lama - but the Buddha's added some important adjectives.

 Do you see them?  There is something about "fully" living and "deeply" letting go that seems important.  I think I'm pretty good on the "fully" living part - but the "deeply" letting go part ain't as well developed.  Part of it is that I love living on this Earth so much - in this form, in this world - that I don't want to let any of it go. It's almost as if we are here to explore "all things physical," and we become enamored in that pursuit.  And yet, I know that in letting go, more gifts come in. 

Lives and more are transformed by this small, yet vastly huge act of letting go.  Goodness - the courage it takes sometimes!


It's important - this letting go...And so I have decided to allow for an extended "moving in" period.  Everyday, I will let go of something in my files - taking the time to discern what I can let go of, and what truly is worth the space in my file cabinet. As I learn more of what will be helpful in what I'm stepping into, the more space I will be able to make in my file cabinet.  In the end, I think what is needed is a firm commitment on my part to deeply let go of what I have done in the past, and deeply reach toward what is inviting me forward.

  
                  And with that, I will say goodnight.