Two of life’s hardest lessons are letting go and learning how to manage change. Unfortunately, they actually go hand in hand which means that usually you can’t have one without the other. And neither of them are easy. If something is changing in your life then it is almost inevitable that you will have to let go of something. If you have to let go of something, usually that means something is changing. Both of these lessons are hard and it makes it harder when you have to face them together.
Throughout your entire life, there will always be things that you have to let go. This could be a person, a job, a city, a home, or even a car. There are always unforeseen circumstances that happen and force us to go into a different direction in life and we aren’t always going to like the outcome. Relationships don’t always work out. Jobs aren’t always guaranteed. Sometimes we have to move and cars don’t last forever.
Everyday we go through the motions of life; wake up, get ready and drive to work, come home and go to bed. It is so easy to get wrapped up in this routine of life that we forget to enjoy things when we have them, which is part of why it is so hard to let go when we need to.
We don’t spend as much time with our loved ones as we should. We get side tracked with our smartphones and technology. We are so used to them always being around that we don’t think they will ever be gone. Instead of visiting, we call. Instead of calling we text. We sometimes argue and say things we don’t mean. We postpone spending time with them because we think we will always have the opportunity. Then one day, they may leave us. A family member may pass away. There are people have found themselves lost and turn to drugs. Those people are never the same as they were before. Breakups happen. People die. People can develop illnesses that can forever change their lives, yet we take these people for granted.
We complain about having to go to work when there are people in the world that don’t even have a job. Sometimes people are forced to move into another city for various reasons. Students move for educational purposes. People get promotions, or can’t find a job in their field in their hometown.
We drive to work every day in the same car not thinking twice about it until it starts to have mechanical problems and we are forced to get a new one. Or maybe we were involved in an accident and now it is gone. It may not seem like it until that moment hits us, but we get attached to vehicles.
As you can see life becomes so habitual that we don’t live for the moment. We procrastinate seeing people. We aren’t thankful for the job we have. We take things and people for granted. Then our lives are completely shaken up for whatever reason. We all of a sudden have to let go of something or someone that we once loved. Now we wish we had spent just a little more time with that person. People get fired and wish they had valued the job they complained about so much. The point is that we are only here for a very short time. They always say, “don’t blink,” and the importance of this cannot be stressed enough. I challenge you to stop procrastinating. Start spending more time with your loved ones. I challenge you to embrace the moment you are currently in. Stop taking everything for granted. Stop wishing away your life and hoping for the future. Enjoy today and know that everything and every moment about today is valuable. Know that it can be taken away from you at any given moment. Stop taking things for granted. Maybe when the time comes to let go or when the time comes for change it won’t hit you as hard. Of course it still won’t be easy, but you won’t have to live with the regret. You know when will be the last day you get to see someone. You never know when you may have to switch jobs. You never know when will be the last time you get to drive your car.
You just never know when you will have to let go or anything or anyone. Enjoy today.
