Know when to hold em’ Know when to fold em’
I went to my first concert around the age of 15 with my friend Kelly and her family, they took me to see Kenny Rodgers. At the time, I did not understand the metaphors for life that resonated in the song The Gambler, however the message has been loud and clear for me lately.
Last week I said good-bye to a wonderful friend who made the difficult decision to leave Colorado and return home to California. It’s never easy to bear witness to another’s pain and suffering, yet it’s these actions that make friendships strong and lifelong. My friend was on what she referred to as her Eat, Pray, Love journey. She tried everything to make a life for herself here and for various reasons she was called to return home and start again. She “held em” for as long as she could and realized, when things stopped working out it was time to “fold em”. She was only folding that one hand she had been dealt and I have no doubt that when she moves beyond the heartbreak that came along with that difficult decision, she will be inviting in renewed energy. I wish her great success and love on this next portion of her life journey. She is a survivor, and I cannot wait for her to get settled into this next reinvention of her life so that I may join her soon for a visit!
In keeping with the Gambler metaphor and building upon that as we welcome the seasonal change from summer to fall this month, I am constantly reminded of both the beauty and heartbreak that comes with letting go. It saddens me to let go of the long, warm days of summer that seem to give us endless amounts of energy for playing in the pool, the sun, taking trips, etc. Yet I absolutely LOVE the cool, crisp air of fall and the incredible colors that mother nature brings as she goes through her own journey of letting go. In the past 2 years I have had to let go of a loving partnership that was no longer meeting my needs. The heartache was excruciatingly painful, yet we were able to say goodbye with nothing but love in our hearts and for that I am eternally grateful. I also had to say goodbye to a career that was no longer serving me. I was not growing, I was not learning, and I was not thriving. I was in an environment that seemed to only foster fear and survival. I loved my job, I loved the individuals I served, the young adults I mentored and the incredible friendships I made along the way. To say goodbye was incredibly difficult, but it was something I had to let go. It was definitely time to “fold em’ and walk away”. Once I moved past the anger and sadness, I made way for an abundance of creativity I never knew I had.
As nature begins to let go of the robust beauty of summer, the flowers and green grass and trees full of life, it is a wonderful time for us to also let go of the things that are no longer serving us, the relationships that no longer make us happy, the jobs we are married to that no longer foster growth and creativity, the habits that don’t bring us health or nourish our bodies and souls, and the items we collect that take up space in our homes that we don’t’ use.
Take time to evaluate things in your life that you may be holding onto, are they still serving you? Do they bring you joy and happiness? Have you been dealt a few shitty hands, is it time to fold em’? To walk away and let go so that you create renewed energy and space in your life to welcome in something new? Something or someone that fills your cup rather than empties it.
Join me in meditation this Monday as we spend 10 minutes quieting the mind and releasing things that no longer serve us. Take some time today and journal or free write about things you want to let go of and your “why”.
