Most of you by now have met my youngest daughter, Briana. She has been a part of our BL family almost her entire life (since she was 7 years old) and just recently has stepped up to play an even bigger role in our family as a manager and yoga teacher. If you see a long haired younger version of me at the front desk you can be assured that's Brie.
BUT for the next 10 days you won't see Brie's smiling face at Body as she left for a trip of a lifetime this morning to Thailand. I am truly excited for her as she will be exploring Bangkok, visiting ruins, hiking across terrains with amazing views, relaxing at beaches, island hopping, AND even riding elephants!! Sounds incredible and something every mother would wish for her daughter. Yet, while I'm thrilled for Brie, I have found that those motherly instincts of wanting to take care of and protect your child have surfaced with a vengeance. So my antics today isn't really about Brie and her travels but about me and my struggle to let go.
One of my favorite authors, John Kabbatt Zinn refers to letting go as one of the 7 tenets of mindfulness. He shares the following, "They say that in India there is a particularly clever way of catching monkeys. As the story goes, hunters will cut a hole in a coconut that is just big enough for the monkey to put its hand through. Then they will drill two smaller holes in the other end, pass a wire through, and secure the coconut to the base of a tree. Then they put a banana inside the coconut and hide. The monkey comes down, puts his hand in and takes hold of the banana. The hole is crafted so that the open hand can go in but the fist cannot get out. All the monkey has to do to be free is to let go of the banana. But it seems most monkeys don't let go."
Often our minds get us "caught" in very much the same way in spite of our intelligence. I know my 25 year old daughter is old enough and capable enough to embark on this amazing adventure and I know that as her mother it is not my place to hold her back physically (as if I could) or emotionally. I know that as her mom I raised her to fly...to have the confidence and independence to leave the "safeness" of Commerce Twp and see the world.
Maybe you can relate?? Perhaps there is an area of your life as well that fear of letting go has kept you or those around you from enjoying life to its fullest. Maybe it's as simple as letting go of that incessant question we ask ourselves of "how should it be" and accepting things "as they are." Would love to have you join me this week in practicing freeing ourselves and "letting go!!" Meet me on my mat...oh and by the way I may need a few "she'll be fine" votes of confidence and some extra hugs this week.
Bon Voyage Brie...your BL family (and your mom) will miss you!!!
