Letting Go While Holding On

Posted by Marlene Moore Gordon in Marlene's Musings | 0 comments

Jan. 12, 2009

Today I begin to open a few of those sealed boxes. The contents tug at my heart.  My mom’s teacup collection, given to me a few months before she died, the pencil sketch of my dad in uniform while  stationed in Italy during World War Two. I’ve saved this memorabilia to remind me of both of my parents, their love and their legacies to me.

Then there are my art reference and photo albums of the life I shared before this one with an ex-husband I divorced years ago. I thought I had put these ghosts to rest when I sealed those boxes. It’s time to put them into another perspective in order to move on.

I realize that looking back can be beneficial as long as I’m just visiting. But reopening sealed boxes, threatens to pull me back to the past and in order to stay present I cannot dwell here too long. I have grieved these passages.  The challenge is how to keep the wonderful memories of people and pets that I have loved and lost, alive, while living fully in the present. How do I let go of the objects that I associate with their memory and not feel guilty about letting them go. The tears begin to flow and I let them.