If It's Not Love, Then Simply Let It Go



Let It Go (Words and Music by Michael McLean)
http://youtu.be/5vMOpFe9nU4

    I finally did something that was really hard, but I have known I have needed to do for some time. I wrote a letter to someone with whom I have been estranged for quite some time. I'm sure it will come as a shock to this person, but I had to do it for me. I had to do it so I could heal. It is someone with whom I have had a very complicated and sometimes volatile relationship in my life. I'm sure you can relate, because we all have them in our life. But what a relief, to finally be able to write what I have wanted to say for so many years but have been unable to express sincerely until now. The best thing about it was that I was able to write it out of a place of love and forgiveness.

   Love and forgiveness. The meaning behind these two words can be so complicated. Sometimes they are very difficult to use in the same sentence, especially when they relate to deep hurt, wounded lives and egos, innocent mistakes and innumerable moments of anger and frustration.   I am still working on being able to forgive past hurt and love beyond pain. So, what do I do about it? Well, like the song says, I have to learn to let some things go. Ruminating and rehashing over the events and situations won't change them, it just adds to the pain every time I choose to relive it in my mind. Every time I relive it, I become a "victim" over and over again. So, I have to choose to put my mind on something else, or do something else to get my mind off of whatever I am ruminating about because whatever I choose to "feed" will grow larger. "You can't change what has hurt you so, but you will heal if you can let it go". What exactly does "letting go" mean? This quote expresses it quite well:

Let Go...

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring, it means I don't do it for someone else.
To "let go" is not to cut myself off, it's the realization I can't control another.
To "let go" is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences.
To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.
To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another, it's to make the most of myself.
To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.
To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.
To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.
To "let go" is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies.
To "let go" is not to be protective, it's to permit another to face reality.
To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.
To "let go" is not to nag, scold or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and to correct them.
To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes, and to cherish myself in it.
To "let go" is not to criticize and regulate anybody, but to try to become what I dream I can be.
To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and to live for the future.
To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

(Author Unknown)

"There's so much of life that can't be lived
    when you're still holding on to hurt and anger deep inside, let it go.
Letting go opens up the heart.
There is a new day hungry to start.
You can't change what has hurt you so,
   but you will heal if you can let it go.
All that's wrong in your life, let it go.
All that is worth saving is love.
Love will hold you tight.
Love lifts the burden and love shines the light.
Only love nourishes the soul.
If it's not love, simply let it go."