Shutter Sisters

on letting go

By

 

Recently, I have been reminded of the importance of letting go; of baggage, of clutter, of resistance, of desperation, of fear. Why does it seem so hard to release the things that clearly do not bring us joy? My head tells me it should be easy to relinquish all of what no longer serve me well. My doubt, insecurities, hestitation…I wish my head would give a gentle nudge to my heart. It needs to be reminded too.

Whether we’re on the threshold of something big, like some sort of soul breakthrough, or something a little less monumental like cleaning out a closet, there is the clear and obvious need to let go. So why, if this would help us get on with things already, do we continue to hold on so tight?

 

The other day my husband brought home a large bag of grapefruit. As my daughter unloaded the bag and arranged all the colorful orbs into the fruit bowl, she marveled at the one that was still adorned with one last tiny leaf. She set it right on top, on display.

 

Don’t pick that leaf girls, it’s so sweet, I have to get some photos of it.

 

Admiring this tenacious little wrinkled leaf—a delightful burst of green against the warm yellow and oranges of the sphere—I shoot one photo after the next; studying the leaf, the light, the fruit and the relationship between them all. And all of the sudden it occurs to me, maybe it’s not the leaf that is holding on, maybe it’s the grapefruit that won’t let go. The leaf is drying out, getting brittle, no longer offering the fruit anything it needs to survive and grow. And yet, the fruit refuses to let go, desperate to hold on.

 

I will be watching that grapefruit perched up on our counter each day…encouraging it to drop it’s last leaf as I get ready to do the same.

 

The last of the letting go might be the most difficult but I assure myself, there’s no need to fear. What we choose to release is something that is no longer is a part of us; no longer necessary to our growth; our wholeness. As I admire the fruit bowl, I daydream about what perfectly round, robust and sumptuous grapefruit will remain when it finally lets go.

Comments

  2. i do believe i need to move the "reading of this site" from the back burner to the top of the pile. i get all caught up in life and forget that this place is not only imagery at its best, it is food for thought and soul.

    beautifully captured.

  11. How beautiful. The reasons behind why we can’t easily let go are so complicated. Posts like yours Tracey are why I come here.

  13. Lovely. The photo and the words. I could have used this inspiration last night.
    Just curious … what is in the background to give such a beautiful "sparkle"?

  14. oh tracey. you are brilliant. i love that these words, thoughts, revelations came to you while focusing one on one with that leaf. with the true essence of it.

    "And all of the sudden it occurs to me, maybe it’s not the leaf that is holding on,
    maybe it’s the grapefruit that won’t let go."

    this is brilliantly true. it stirs things up in me.
    thank you for sharing this. it’s good to feel a sister in this letting go.

  18. I’m terrible at letting go. I don’t even like to change the form of things, like cutting up clothes to make a quilt. Yesterday I made paper boats for my children and we "let them go," knowing they would change form and dissolve, but also knowing they would bring us pleasure for a few moments while they gently sailed and twirled around in the temporary pond that had formed at the end of our street.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3273342670/

  19. Just yesterday I cut my little girl’s hair. Short, really short. I was having a blast watching her hair get longer, so why did I do this?
    I just realized that it wasn’t even with her growing bangs, and that it wasn’t comfortable for her even. And add the fact that she is starting kindergarden in a month or so, and I was going to have an extra hard time combing her every morning. So, I cut it off (I’ll have to show you pictures later, she is a doll).
    But it was so hard to let go! And it wasn’t even something of my own… Maybe a glimpse of my own dreams were leaning on he hair. So, it’s good that I just let it go.
    Thank you.

  22. a beautiful write – too often I cling like that fruit, not wanting to let go because that leaf brought so many memories of happy times – times that I needed the leaf. And I’m afraid if I let the leaf go that I will no longer have those happy times as they have slipped beyond my grasp…never realizing there are more happy memories out there to experience. I’m trying to get better…but, there are times I hold on tight.

  24. A very wise person (my therapist actually) asked me to consider this: instead of trying to figure out what I am to let go of, perhaps I should discover what it is that I am letting in in the first place.
    This has been profound for me. How well do we manage the boundry that keeps the unnecessary things from coming in?

  26. the timing of this post could not have come at a more perfect time for me. thank you so very much.

  28. I can relate to this observation about letting go. I think we cling to things sometimes because of the good feelings we associated with it. The sadness or fear comes in letting those feelings go. What if you forget what it felt like to feel that good? What if, what if, what if…

    Letting go is like surrendering. There is power in both and a sense of peace. While it is not easy at the beginning, it always ends up being the right thing to do in the end.

  29. I love the picture as well as the subject of "letting go". It’s hard sometimes to let go and I try to remind myself of that old adage, "If it doesn’t serve you, let it go" but it does remain a challenge at times.

  31. In the end, all that matters is…
    ….how well did we live?
    ….how well did we love?
    ….how well did we learn to let go.

    Thank you for your post, it reinforces my beliefs. Beautiful.

  40. oh… how i love what you shared!

    for me… i admit i am controlling as all get out… and honestly sometimes "letting go" seems like a mountain too high to climb…

    "and yet, the fruit refuses to let go, desperate to hold on"… sometimes i am a stubborn fruit! 🙂 working on my ripeness! 🙂

    really beautiful… !