Time to Let Go
Map
Map
Story & Experience
Over thirty years ago, I first saw Trebbe in action as she stood in her own power, commanding respect among people who were divided. I was mesmerised and my sense of awe and gratitude towards her have never left me. Since then, I have been blessed to have shared a number of journeys with Trebbe and continue to learn from her. As I contemplated where to mark this year’s Radical Joy for Hard Times I came across an exercise I had written focusing on my feelings of shame and disgust towards myself for being untidy and disorganised. As I read how cutting and cruel I was towards myself, I was shocked to realise that I had written that piece on the 23rd of June, 2012. Sometimes it only takes a moment for things to change forever. I experienced radical joy as I realised that finally, ‘enough was enough’. I was ‘done’ with being so hard towards myself. Suddenly, ‘self-compassion’ made sense and freed me up to be more compassionate towards others. The words of the hymn which had been with me when I first met Trebbe resurfaced: ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’.
Over thirty years ago, I first saw Trebbe in action as she stood in her own power, commanding respect among people who were divided. I was mesmerised and my sense of awe and gratitude towards her have never left me. Since then, I have been blessed to have shared a number of journeys with Trebbe and continue to learn from her. As I contemplated where to mark this year’s Radical Joy for Hard Times I came across an exercise I had written focusing on my feelings of shame and disgust towards myself for being untidy and disorganised. As I read how cutting and cruel I was towards myself, I was shocked to realise that I had written that piece on the 23rd of June, 2012. Sometimes it only takes a moment for things to change forever. I experienced radical joy as I realised that finally, ‘enough was enough’. I was ‘done’ with being so hard towards myself. Suddenly, ‘self-compassion’ made sense and freed me up to be more compassionate towards others. The words of the hymn which had been with me when I first met Trebbe resurfaced: ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’.
Why this Place?
Ross, Ireland
This is my special place for ‘letting go’.
Act of Beauty
So I tore the pages with my cruel words into little pieces. I put them on a piece of waste ground, surrounded by beauty and I set them on fire. As I watched them slowly smoulder, I sang and I prayed. I watched the smoke gently rise. I watched the ashes form into the shape of a bird and thought of a phoenix rising and soaring high. I reconnected with places of hurt and places of beauty from my past. Now it is time to think of places of hurt and places of beauty in the whole world. There is no more room for cruel words. I will mix the ashes with soil and plant a shrub of hope. I will continue to pray for peace on earth and do my best to live in peace. Thank you Trebbe for your example, your courage and your kindness.
Additional Photos
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