written by: Krista 

So much about this picture makes me smile. The excitement on our kids faces as they anxiously await the moment they can release their balloon into the air, and watch it take off until they can no longer see it. The ease they have in letting go of a balloon, that for us as adults represents a goodbye to our Mother and Grandmother. This picture was taken at the end of my Mother’s funeral, four years ago. I have often wondered, in this life which consists of many challenges, how do we learn to let go? How do we move forward? We were recently at a family reunion with my husband’s family, and one night we all gathered as a family to talk about family history, and to learn more about each other. At the close of the night, my sweet Mother in law started telling us how her and my Father in law (who passed away) met, and a part of their history. I found myself fully embraced in this moment. I remember thinking, “I wish time could just stand still.” How many moments in your life have you had, where you were fully present? I mean where mind, body, and soul are truly connected to that moment.

If you are like me, this is something I have had to work on. I was blessed to grow up in a wonderful family. There were 7 kids. We had a great childhood, but it was filled with much difficulty as well. I found myself always planning ahead and operating in survival mode, and rarely living in the moment. I have realized that this is something I can control in my life. I can let go and live in the present moment each day. It’s a great feeling. If I find myself dwelling on a comment I said to someone, thinking about the way it came across, I tell myself to let go. If I start feeling anxiety, I let go.  If I am stressed because my to do list is so long, I simplify it and let go. Telling yourself to let go and move on, means you no longer think about it. It’s like releasing those beautiful purple balloons in the air after my Mother’s funeral. Once those balloons were gone, nobody said, “When am I going to get my balloon back?” They didn’t think about seeing the balloon again. Now, I know we have those tender moments in life that require a little more time, healing, and love that are needed to let go, but I know it is possible. I have been to the very bottom of anxiety and depression (which I will share more about on this journey). I know it is possible to heal. The strength and power in our body and soul is more than we can imagine. We all deserve to feel happy, loved, and important. Live in the moment today. Laugh a little more ,and let go of all the negative surrounding you.

Hope On. Journey On.

Krista