“The day I understood everything, was the day I stopped trying to figure everything out. The day I knew peace was the day I let everything go.”
-C. JoyBell C.

This month I am getting an even deeper understanding of the challenge of letting go.  My oldest has been accepted to Spelman College, and we couldn’t be prouder.  She is more than prepared for this next phase of life.  Recently, I took her to an event where accepted students spend the night and get a feel for what the college is about both academically and socially.  As I watched her navigate new people, network in areas of interest, and get adjusted to her new world; I thought wow, “She is ready”.  I said goodbye, and as I was driving home I was overwhelmed with emotion.  All I could think about was the day we went to the hospital to deliver her, and how my life has never been the same.  For the last 18 years, my world has revolved around Amber Imani Booker, and my job (for the most part) is done.  As I cried my eyes out that night, I realized I was happy and sad at the same time.  I cried and shared my feelings with her dad, as well as a few others that could relate to the dichotomy of feelings that were stirring inside of me.  The person that gave me the most comfort was my own mom.  She simply said, “I know all too well what you’re feeling.”  And I thought back to when she dropped me off at college, and later when I moved into my first apartment.  As prepared and ready as I was…as proud of me that she was…she was hysterical when hugging me and then letting go.  It’s a rite of passage.  And it is now my turn to let go, and embrace all that is to come!

So now, once again, I am forced to get off the porch, and face a new reality.  I am so excited to watch her grow and see who she chooses to be in this world.  I am also excited to see how the dynamics at home change as I am able to give more to my two love bugs still at home.  There is more of me for them, and I think they are looking forward to that as well.  We are all going to miss the “everyday” of having Amber home, and life as we all knew it is going to change, but the sadness is beginning to be replaced with excitement.

My Take Aways:

• Letting go is not easy, but in any situation, if you don’t, it will leave you and the ones you love stuck in a holding zone of safety, which is not really living at all!
• Parenting (like life) is a never-ending journey of letting go.   First it’s pre-school, and then before you know it they want to date, they have their own opinions, and then your dropping them off at college.

My Challenge for you:

• Think of something that you are holding on to that is keeping you or a loved one from moving forward. It could be a person.  It could be pain.  It could be forgiving or not forgiving someone.   It could be a job.  It could be a child. It could be anything and any situation!
• Think about what it would take for you to get the courage to let go, and trust that the journey will take you where you need to go.
• Write it down and take one step toward letting “it” go!