That time of the year is here. That time, when my heart ties itself into a knot and stays that way until I painstakingly, slowly and seemingly methodically – yoga, meditations, daily errands, work, hobbies… all that helps – find a way to untie it, has come around, yet again. It’s called – the beginning of the school year!
And every year it sneaks up on me. I think that I am totally fine, and then my mama’s heart does its “ritual dance of knots”. I try to be stoic and try to show that it does not get to me… But it does.
All those comings and goings… I suspect that my annual heartache happens at this time of the year, because, as a family, we make an effort to spend some (hard to find!) time together, and then – right afterwards – I have to let my children go. Go to their schools – colleges away from here, and colleges far, far away from here, and jobs/endeavors after college away from here, too… Yes, I know that I have to let them go, and, of course, I would not want it any other way, of course… And yet, my mama’s heart aches. It hurts. It twists and turns in my chest, even though I have chosen to trust that we have taught them enough to be self-sufficient, kind, caring, strong young men… Wow, I could go on and on for a long time, but, I’m sure, you all got the point – it is that time of the year when our fledglings leave the nests.
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This year though, I luckily stumbled upon a simple suggestion on Tiny Buddha site to basically “hack” my brain (or is it heart?). We all know the importance of words we utter to ourselves and thoughts we have. This simple shortcut (or hack) allowed me to turn my misery-invoking “I have to let my children go!“ thought into “I get to let them go!”. And somehow, almost instantly, I felt lighter, I felt filled with gratitude and awe of these young men (my children) and their ways of handling this life, and also of this actual situation – they are healthy and able to go, they want to go, they have their plans and dreams, and safe places to carry those dreams out! I felt incredibly lucky that there are colleges, campuses, workplaces waiting for them … away from here, and, yes, even far, far away from here, and that there are friends and colleagues, professors and partners, and mentors and… yes, you get it – this list never ends!
The transformation that this simple new wording brought was so instantaneous, liberating and magical, that I started applying this “get to…” hack to my most every thought! – I don’t HAVE to do, I don’t HAVE to go, I don’t HAVE to see, I don’t HAVE to be, work, perform etc… I GET to do, I GET to go, I GET to see and I GET to be, work, perform etc… Try it, please, and see what happens!
In my case – I inhale and exhale. (I get to do that, too!) and with my heart wide-opened and filled with gratitude, and a smile on my lips, I say : “Welcome, that time of the year, back into my life – I actually get to welcome you!” What a privilege!
Written by Indra Strong, Certified Let It Go Yoga teacher.
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Such a little word is so powerful, I must remember to use it more.
Thanks for sharing.
Profound in its extra-ordinariness — Thank you!! (Perfect photo accompaniment too — beautiful!!)
Even pain will leave you when you decide to let go !!!…
Thank you for sharing!!! Love it!
Thank You Indra once again for sharing of your thoughts! I will try it too! 🧡
Thank you for sharing.. It’s so true about this special time of year and life. Brilliant corespondence between photo and text.
💝💝
Exelent, Indra!