Let go

"The essence of generosity is letting go.

Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something – usually ourselves.

When we feel unhappy, when we feel inadequate, we get stingy; we hold on tight.

Generosity is an activity that loosens us up.

By offering whatever we can – a dollar, a flower, a word of encouragement –

we are training in letting go."

 Pema Chödrön, The Places That Scare You

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There are things that make my ass twitch (French Kiss)

Things that drive me into anger and fear

And turn me into someone I really don’t want to be

Sometimes it doesn’t take much

A mild criticism

An article in the news

An expression on the face of a friend

A silence that seems loaded

That certain ‘phrase” that makes me grind my teeth

And here’s the thing

I am provoked because that cue

Touches something I have not forgiven or resolved

Something to which I grimly cling

An old hurt

An old way of thinking

An old failure

A bit of self-loathing

Anything that causes me pain

Makes me feel less about myself

Or unsure,

Threatened

And when I am provoked

It gets ugly

So ugly

No wonder the palmist pleads

“Let go, and let God be God”  (a lovely parphrase)

Let go

Which is another way of saying

“be generous”

Be generous with yourself

Be generous with that person who has hurt you

Be generous to the people you fear

Be generous to the stranger

Be generous

Give in whatever way you can

Give money

Give time

Give energy

Give a listening ear

Give hope

Give respect

Give love

Give yourself

And in the giving

You will find a new freedom

A new joy

But most of all

You will find yourself