Letting go...

Letting go is not easy for me.  When I invest time, energy and passion into something it is painful for me to let it go.  It is hard for me to admit that I don't have time for it.  It is hard to say that it (or he/she) doesn't belong in my life anymore.  This week was a practice in letting go and accepting. 

This week I had to let go of a program that I helped develop, design and nursed into reality.  I invested blood, sweat and tears into this program - literally.  I almost caused an irreparable rift between me and my BFF because of this program.  Over the course of this year I had to cede direction of the program to a colleague.  This week the program started and I was part of it but I wasn't.  I was an onlooker.  It hurt so bad and I want to kick and scream and cry.  Yet, at the same time...I am so proud of the program.  I want it to thrive regardless of who is directing.  The program should not be dependent on a person.  I had to practice letting it go and being in a different place with it.  I still feel it but I get it, 

Sometimes things no longer fit in our lives.  There is nothing wrong with that.  Sometimes things and people grow together and sometimes they grow apart.  I am perfectly capable of throwing away a shirt that doesn't fit anymore or to get rid of possessions but admitting that people, programs or ideas no longer fit, is much harder.  Letting go of these things also means letting go of who I was when they were in my life.  It means being fully honest with myself and admit that perhaps it isn't those people or things that have changed but instead it is me that has changed.

Giraffe - stages of change

This video is both an accurate representation of the stages of change and makes me laugh....

I've been sharing it with everyone I know because I believe that many of the people dear to me (including myself) are locked in this cycle of emotion.

My least personal favorite stage but my FAVORITE stage in the video is depression. :)