Over the last year with my word ‘mindfulness’ on the brain, I’ve been preparing for a creative change, working toward being more aware of things I have in my life – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Some of the practices I’ve dipped my toes into this year to accomplish this are meditation, yoga, running, reading, writing, and lots of self-care. And in the process of having more awareness, I’ve been very thoughtful about what is serving me or helping me live the best version of myself. That means if something isn’t benefiting me, like an emotion, a friend, a food or drink, then I need to let it go. It’s time to set it free and leave space for what will serve my best intentions from here on out!
Ready for a Creative Change
I have really struggled with vulnerability and being able to shed some of the dead weight I’m carrying. Letting go of perfection, of not having all the answers, of still figuring out what creativity is and why I need it. So I’m starting fresh, creatively reborn in a sense. And to do that, I need this poem below. I first learned of this poem from my friend Jenny Mcglothern of Mama Needs a Refill at her mindfulness retreat I attended last spring. As Jenny read the poem aloud, I was so struck by it. It hit me to my core. I had to read it through a few more times to really let it settle in.
The poem is written by a woman named Safire Rose and it’s called She Let Go. It’s so simple, yet so profound. I tear up every time I read it through, really taking it all in. Because it’s where I’m at in life in a time when I need to be more mindful of myself, of what is around me, and what is part of me. Letting go of what I don’t need, the self doubt, the negativity, the not being enough. And to slow down a little. Let go…
She Let Go
by Safire Rose
She let go.
She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go.
She let go of the fear.
She let go of the judgments.
She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.
She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.
She didn’t ask anyone for advice.
She didn’t read a book on how to let go.
She didn’t search the scriptures.
She just let go.
She let go of all of the memories that held her back.
She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.
She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.
She didn’t promise to let go.
She didn’t journal about it.
She didn’t write the projected date in her Day-Timer.
She made no public announcement and put no ad in the paper.
She didn’t check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.
She didn’t analyze whether she should let go.
She didn’t call her friends to discuss the matter.
She didn’t do a five-step Spiritual Mind Treatment.
She didn’t call the prayer line.
She didn’t utter one word.
She just let go.
No one was around when it happened.
There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.
No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.
There was no effort.
There was no struggle.
It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.
A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her.
And the sun and the moon shone forevermore…
©2003
image: my sweet daughter Lucy, taking in all the light she can possibly hold!
