Thank you reading, commenting, and sharing, Dee! I’m curious about your experience of letting go- have you found it gets easier with time/ number of times we let go?
To me it’s less about frequency and more about level or depth. I can talk the “letting go” language like many of us. sometimes I find that even when I think I’ve let go of something I’m clinging to it somehow. Right now it seems to be about letting go of career narratives. Typically a male problem but not always. How does my work define me? And if I don’t work, who am I? And why am I hanging on to a stupid gig that I don’t even like just to feel needed or worthy? And what is work anyway?
So the digging in to the underneath layers of it seems to get easier with time as well as the letting go part. 🤷🏻♂️
It makes me think of how personal development is like peeling an onion. I can relate to the ‘i thought this was done but apparently not’ nature of change. Thanks for taking the time!
Thank you, Neetu, for reading and commenting! You’re right to point out the tension between holding on and letting go. It’s been my experience that sometimes the letting go happens almost without my noticing and at others, I have do it minute by minute!
Hello, Michael! After years of fighting perfectionism, it feels wonderful to move forward into this supportive community! Thank you for reading and commenting!
"I’m going to start by not being a perfectionist for a few minutes at a time and share this poem, my first in nearly forty years. Next, I’m going to be practice courage for a few minutes, and quickly schedule this newsletter."
I am going to take this advice and use it tomorrow when I hunker down in the morning with my newsletter! Let go of the perfection and create with courage, for a few minutes, or long enough to get my newsletter done. Thanks for this great piece. Such good reminders.
In the crippling pursuit of perfectionism, we only lose time. Forty years is a long time, but I’m glad that you decided to share this wonderful, poignant poem.
Beautiful writing Priya, and brava for you cultivating your courage!✨🌟💖🙏🕊️
Thank you for your support, Camilla! I appreciate it!
Shared! I’ve been thinking about this topic a lot lately. Both personally and professionally I’m bumping into situations that call for letting go.
Thanks for the post and the poetry 🙏
Thank you reading, commenting, and sharing, Dee! I’m curious about your experience of letting go- have you found it gets easier with time/ number of times we let go?
To me it’s less about frequency and more about level or depth. I can talk the “letting go” language like many of us. sometimes I find that even when I think I’ve let go of something I’m clinging to it somehow. Right now it seems to be about letting go of career narratives. Typically a male problem but not always. How does my work define me? And if I don’t work, who am I? And why am I hanging on to a stupid gig that I don’t even like just to feel needed or worthy? And what is work anyway?
So the digging in to the underneath layers of it seems to get easier with time as well as the letting go part. 🤷🏻♂️
It makes me think of how personal development is like peeling an onion. I can relate to the ‘i thought this was done but apparently not’ nature of change. Thanks for taking the time!
Lovely poem! Kudos to you and thanks for sharing. The tension between letting go and holding on is fascinating and equivocal at times.
Thank you, Neetu, for reading and commenting! You’re right to point out the tension between holding on and letting go. It’s been my experience that sometimes the letting go happens almost without my noticing and at others, I have do it minute by minute!
Lovely poem. Perfectionism is a spiral to nowhere. Thx for sharing!
Thank you for reading and you’re right, perfectionism leads nowhere!
I loved your poem! I especially loved these lines:
Is she
Too afraid to hold onto anything?
I wonder this myself all the time.
Thanks, Jason! I wrote poetry in my teens and to come back to it now feels both profound and light!
Beautiful poem, Priya.
The message behind it is an important one for us writers and the way you delivered that message is elegant.
I really liked the last three lines:
“Let me start again, she says.
There is less of ‘me’
Each time.”
I also really liked this description in the intro to your piece:
“The hazy sunlight pools between buildings and trees, shadows seem softer and less dense, and trees prepare to let go of leaves.”
Thanks, Priya — keep fighting that perfectionism :)
Hello, Michael! After years of fighting perfectionism, it feels wonderful to move forward into this supportive community! Thank you for reading and commenting!
I’m glad to have to found this community also, and I’m glad to have connected with you, Priya :)
"I’m going to start by not being a perfectionist for a few minutes at a time and share this poem, my first in nearly forty years. Next, I’m going to be practice courage for a few minutes, and quickly schedule this newsletter."
I am going to take this advice and use it tomorrow when I hunker down in the morning with my newsletter! Let go of the perfection and create with courage, for a few minutes, or long enough to get my newsletter done. Thanks for this great piece. Such good reminders.
Hello Kim, thank you for reading and sharing your perspective! I greatly appreciate it!
A timely reminder to us all.
In the crippling pursuit of perfectionism, we only lose time. Forty years is a long time, but I’m glad that you decided to share this wonderful, poignant poem.
Hello, Richa! Forty years is a very long time! Thank you for reading, I appreciate it.