Letting go takes a lot of courage

~Letting go takes a lot of courage sometimes. But once you let go, happiness comes very quickly. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh
As I’ve stepped into the new year I’ve been steeped in Patanjali’s “two wings” of Yoga: never give up …. and always let go.
My siblings (6 brothers, 3 sisters) have been caring for my Mum in her home 24/7 for the past 2.5 years. It has been a wonderful opportunity to be of service, to be in relationship with Mum and my family on a deeper level, to connect with our family values and traditions, and to love and enjoy each other with open and trusting hearts.
Circumstances have changed and we have recently “re-homed” Mum into a local care facility ~ a wonderful facility, with caring and compassionate staff. But in these early days, it is hard to ignore that they are not us, and she is not “home”.

We know that this is the right decision, but we are grieving the closure of a beautiful and special time in our lives. Mum has eased our angst with her faith, courage and acceptance. In this time of change I am reminded of the of the basis of yogic philosophy that places emphasis on the core principles of practice (abhyasa) and non - attachment (vairagya).

Abhyasa means having an attitude of persistent effort to attain and maintain a state of stable tranquility. Vairagya, or non-attachment, is the essential companion in learning to let go of the many attachments, aversions, fears, and false identities that are clouding the true Self.

As I move into 2025, I have been asked to step into my practice with commitment, trust, and acceptance of “what is”. My early morning meditation, sustains me with its routine, its “sameness”, its steady rhythm ~ grounding me in presence, so that I can “let go” and be alive and open to whatever unfolds in my day.

Mum, always the Guru, is gracefully showing me the way forward, and when we are together, we are happy, irrespective of the location.

Yoga TreeJanuary 26, 2025