RELEASE to FIND PEACE in 2023 by Pennie Hunt

In this new year I am going to release to find space for peace.
What does that mean? 
 
Over a decade ago, I gave up on New Year’s Resolutions. They never worked for me… or maybe I never worked intently on them. I always felt like I failed three weeks into the new year. So after years of trying I stopped making resolutions and I began choosing a word for my year. A word I could concentrate on that acts as a GPS to keep me on track. A concept I would ponder and pay attention to for an entire year. This has worked much better for me than a resolution.
 
I print out the word and place it in places I see every day like on my computer screen, my bathroom mirror and my car visor. When I see it, I am reminded to keep the word, and its meaning, a priority in my life.
 
This year I struggled with the word. I knew I wanted to clean out some areas in my life. I tried a few words on for size. 
 
I thought of how I wanted to purge some things, but I don’t like that word. When I say ‘purge’ it doesn’t feel good coming out of my mouth. It leaves a bad taste. 
Maybe “downsize?’ No, that didn’t hit the mark. 
 
Clean, eject, remove, eliminate, rid, dispose, declutter. None of these seemed right. 
 
I landed on release. That is what I was going for. This year I want to release things. I want to release clothes and household items I don’t use and donate them to those in need. I want to release things I keep in the hope of using them someday, but probably won’t. I want to release a few pounds and give them back to the Universe or to wherever pounds go when they leave your body. 
 
But more than that…
I want to release comparison, competition and criticism that I have received and given.  Resentment, anger​, past hurts and wounds need to go. 
 
Then I asked myself a big question. Why? Why is releasing important to me? Why do I want to release these things? The answer was loud and clear - to create peace. 
 
I want to live in a clutter-free environment that feels peaceful. I want to be at peace with my health and body. From my closets to my heart and mind, I want plenty of space for peace.
 
I also don’t want to feel like this is a chore or punishment. I want to learn to love the process of releasing. I’ve never been good at letting go. I become attached to things. I’m sentimental and attach emotion to items. 
 
I have sweaters that I’ve had for 20 years. I’ve held a few grudges just as long. I find places to stuff old clothes just on the chance I want to pull them out and wear them again. I find places to stuff emotions just in case I want to pull them out and carry them around again. 
 
This year I want to learn how to love walking away from what I don’t need and find joy in walking into the open space of peace it leaves.
 
Does this sound like a lot? It is! But what if I could be successful at releasing even half of what I hope to? I would be dancing in a big opening of peace! The more I’m able to release the bigger my dance floor will be.
 
This year my word is a phrase, Release to Find Peace. 
I’ll let you know how it goes. 
What will your word (or phrase) be?
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                                                       Pennie’s Life Lesson:
                                   When you release, you open space for peace.
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YOUR TURN...        
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