Letting Go

We all have history. Good or bad, those memories can be painful, full of laughter, or both, sometimes all at once. It is human nature to hold tightly to the objects that we feel represent the memories that are so vital to our self-image and life accomplishments. When the prospect of letting go of anything we consider that valuable arises, we tend to panic and find ourselves getting lost in the past, without realizing we were already there. We think we know ourselves until we find we have come to that crossroads where we must decide to let those objects go in order to grow, or cling tightly to the memories those objects serve and risk staying in an emotionally stagnant state.

Most of the time keepsakes are harmless to hang on to, but sometimes we must break the bondage those memories have over our present life, while still continuing to honor the memories. And if those memories are once-in-a-lifetime moments, such as your daughter’s fifth birthday party, or a memory of a very special dog, it makes it all the more difficult to part with the object that immortalizes those memories and keeps them vivid when it's time to do so.

Such as the case of a very special car; a Pontiac Sunfire. The Sunfire was not in my life during the timeframe of my most cherished memories but reminds me of the car I did have then. It’s in great shape for its age and embodies my personality as well, which also contributes to my hesitation to let it go.

For me, selling the car to make room for a new one generates a sense of guilt, as if I am choosing to let go of a dear person who has been a trusted friend and confidant. The Sunfire looks very much like the car I had during the time a special person, who has now moved on from life and is a resident of Heaven, was a passenger countless times. That person was the one I thought I would live out the rest of my days with. If I sell the car am I selling his place in my heart too? How do I let go of a car that reminds me so much of driving my daughter everywhere looking for the perfect materials for her Halloween costume one special fall? And what about when my crazy dog, a dog whose antics I could actually write a whole entire book about, pulled out her stitches and we had to rush her to the vet in that car?

That Sunfire truly represents so many of the memories I hold sacred in my life. “But a car is just a car” you might be thinking as you read this, but I challenge you to consider the trinkets and keepsakes that we all accumulate throughout the course of our life that represent the most cherished moments of our lives. Sometimes, their very presence in our everyday life can inhibit the necessary freedom that allows us to move on; the freedom to allow new growth, and experience new places, things, or even people, even when letting go is excruciating.

As painful as it may be, we have to let go of things that no longer serve us in order to live life for today so we may boldly face the future. It's so we can be the best version of ourselves we can be. So in that sentiment, I bid my beloved Pontiac Sunfire, "Farewell...you have served me better than I could have asked for, but it is time to bid you "adieu."