Learning to Let Go in Art and in Life

Tomorrow is officially the first day of Spring and I’ve been occupying myself with cleaning, as many of us do every year around this time. One thing I’ve been struggling with is learning to let go.  As I’ve gone through my stash of art supplies and crafty materials, I’ve found totally forgotten items. I’m a bit of pack rat and have a hard time letting go of stuff because I keep thinking I might need it or it might be useful for xyz project – sometime in the future. Even though rationally I know it defeats the purpose of having a stash if you don’t use it! I am slowly learning to let go in a few ways though, especially when it comes to my artwork. Painting over canvases and boards that are just sitting around, recycling papers into journals or just plain throwing stuff into the recycling bin.  I’m also taking a scrapbooking class with shimelle.com about using your stash, really trying to get myself in the mode of using all the stuff I have around me. It’s easy to stock up on supplies, but I want to stop buying with just the intent of doing something with it. Yes, I must learn to use even that oh-so-uber special paper and leather that I’m saving… saving for what?  I can’t seem to remember anymore.

As I deal with letting go of physical items I started to realize I also need to work on letting go of other things in life. All of this anxiety around letting go of something…why is that? I suppose it’s difficult for fear of not having what you need when the time comes around. Or perhaps I need to love myself more, because it’s a deeper issue that makes letting go seem like I’m losing a part of myself? Is there something about loss that really bothers me to the core? I suppose it’s completely natural to be afraid of lacking in something. Although I still don’t know how to deal with losing a person in this world – the relationship never ends with your loved ones that pass on – I am trying to work on letting go of issues, worries and thoughts that really don’t matter.  It’s just that I tend to dwell. Somehow I must find closure, let go and move on with life. It seems like life with less baggage would be more free and ultimately more happy.  That sounds pretty darn cool to me.

I hope you can think a bit about letting go of something yourself…physical or more emotional. Either way, try lightening the load on your shoulders.  No need to be a super woman – I promise you’ll feel a lot better! Happy weekend to all.

Posted on March 19, 2010 at 8:46 pm | thoughts + discussion

2 Responses to “Learning to Let Go in Art and in Life”

1. patsy says:

   March 20, 2010 at 2:11 pm

   I have the same problem but not with expensive materials- with junk! It’s in my genes! I collect all kinds of paper, can’t throw them away! i also file them by color! What I buy are vintage clothes (here in the Philippines it’s called ukay ukay)and cut it up, paste it on paper and file that as well!! I tear up old books (not valuable!) and paint them, I keep the plastic containers that toys or other stuff come in, cut it up for future use, candy wrappers, magazine pages, etc. You get the idea. It takes me a long time to decide to throw something! But you see my mom is the same way- we see potential in it and our little business was founded on it. When my sisters and I got married, my mum filled our rooms with all sorts of things! So one day, when! I will learn to let go and be freer!

   Reply
   • linda says:

     March 20, 2010 at 7:08 pm

     I think there’s something amazing about collections and collecting things that might be of use, but you do have to be organized and think about if it’s impeding you from doing the things you want or not. It sounds like you are way organized, file by color and such…that is totally cool! I found that I forget about things that I have and don’t use them and having too much mess that stops me from creating, which is bad!