Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come ~ Anne Lamott
I come to you today with a degree from the University of Loss.
I have earned this degree, a loss has been a constant for me. I’ve dealt with figurative and literal hurricanes… From my beautiful home riding away with a storm to the abrupt end of a relationship to my beloved mother’s passing, I’ve spent years traveling in a constant rhythm of up and down, like a carousel ride that refuses to stop. Where I have been so happy that I could have floated from sheer joy like a hot air balloon, I have been so sad that life has lost its meaning.
Oh, but the ‘Up’ parts are the divine ones. They were a constant, just as the loss has been, but they are my compass. The happy moments and memories where that carousel horse is at its peak, the balloon is rising to meet the sun… these are the things that lead me to where I want to go. I have made a conscious choice to be happy daily. When you come out of a storm, though you will never be the same, you will have become stronger, wiser, and ready for new growth.
My growth has shown me:
Be patient. It will ALL pass. We shouldn’t stumble over things that are behind us. The man upstairs is taking care of us right now. He never fails.
Tomorrow is another day. We are given yet another chance at this thing called Life! Though it sounds trite, to me it means everything. I feel so blessed knowing there will always be a new day; new mercies every morning; new beginnings on their way.
At every juncture, we are all finishing chapters, turning over new leaves, getting on with life… Things pass, and the best we can do is to really let them go.
Now, will you do something for me?
Write down every loss you can remember. Place that piece of paper inside a white balloon, blow it up, tie it off, and go to the ocean, a window, your backyard, a park or anywhere there is the open sky. It’s important that you be by yourself, as this has to be a personal experience. Only you can feel it. Only you can live it. It has to be a memory that only YOU can cherish and hold close to your heart because you are letting the sad parts go. Though you can keep them in a special compartment of your soul, you must forget where… And sending off this balloon is a way of symbolizing you’re letting go of your losses for good.
Close your eyes. Mentally, emotionally, and physically say goodbye to all of those things, people, and circumstances you have lost. Those things you have missed out on, those people who escaped your heart, those circumstances that tore your soul…
Are we good? Now I want you to raise your arms to the sky and release that balloon! Let go forever. For good. See that pain drifting away into the sky. Release. Let go.
Happy days are coming your way!