Just let it go. How often have I heard that as advice given to people? I'm not really sure that it helps those in turmoil -- seems a bit trite. Yet, when moving forward something from the past will be left behind. We can't drag it all along with us. Granted, there will be baggage, but no need to fill a huge moving truck with it all. Be selective. It will take time to pack up what needs to continue the journey with you and find a new home and to recycle what we can of the rest.
Files were tackled for much of the day today. Progress is being made in this process. I did feel that there were dreams that had to be left behind. While working through the sadness of a sort that came with that realization, I concluded that it might not be actually giving up on dreams so much as a change of direction. Many ideas for research projects or papers to write went to the recycle bag yesterday and today. The dream was to do some useful and fun research and write papers to share those findings. That dream will continue to exist. The direction of the research topics changed over the years, so it isn't that the dream was abandoned -- it just changed direction. No regret entered my thoughts, just a wistfulness at remembering the path I'd laid out at the beginning. These ideas still bear fruit for study but it won't be by me -- at least not with the current research plan directions <smile>.
Learning to let go of past plans or dreams allows different plans and dreams to flourish. I decided that keeping the files of former plans would be excess baggage to carry forward. At the cost of excess baggage fees -- actual and emotional -- it seemed best to part ways. While some other files brought catharsis, these few felt different, leading to a wonderful reflective process. I chose a song to share that covers this type of feeling. The scenario in the lyrics is different than mine, but does speak to a process of change. Enjoy!
Letting Go -- Suzy Bogguss
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