The Art of Letting 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."

 

- Ernest Holmes

The Happiness Project

I just finished reading   The Happiness Project  by Gretchen Rubin. The author spent one year trying to increase her happiness level and learn exactly what makes her happy. Like me, she has a very nice life - happily married, great kids, nice home, etc. - but "something" seems to be missing.
She tries different methods each month to see if it increases her happiness level. And each month it seems to work.
From this book I learned to take small steps in the right direction. The one I've been following all week is the "one minute rule" - if it takes a minute or less to do - DO IT NOW. This tiny step is making a difference. A biiiigg step that I'm not looking forward to is cleaning out my closet. I have such a hard time parting with clothes that will fit when I lose weight, I may need for a special occasion, will match a piece of clothing or jewelry that I don't own yet, etc.
One thing that left me very happy is that I seem to accept myself more that the author. Her first rule is "Be Gretchen". I think I'm pretty comfortable being myself. I listen to music, watch tv shows, read books, that I like not caring if anyone likes it.
Just like Gretchen I feel that I've had the ruby slippers the whole time. But.....maybe there's something more?

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." – E.E. Cummings