Letting Go of the Have-to’s

In the essay “Close the Board Room Closet”, in the book Life is a Verb, Patti Digh shares the day her head exploded because of the length of her to-do list.

She also shares how writer Toni Morrison, who had experienced a similar head explosion herself,  realized that what it all came down to was not the entire list, but “what you have to do or die !”.

For Morrison, that was raise her children and write. For Patti, I am sure it is something similar to that.

Well, for me,

the what I have to do or die is pretty simple too.

I need to love my peeps really deeply.

And I need to create.

 

(All photos from my new Sony Cybershot 10XZoom, 14.1 megapixel point and shoot – an early  pressie for my upcoming birthday from the sweet Man I love !  Dig the panorama !)

(Hampton Beach, NH – The Rock Fairy needed some supplies.)

(Our side porch with fall mums on a perfect Fall day.  )

(Furry kids Little Boo, Chica Lulu, and Azzy-Cat)

So I made the decision to quit my part time job at the Halloween store at the end of this week.

I kinda hated it, you see.

Not only that, but it was making me feel like I had no choice but to to say no to some great creative opportunities because I didn’t have the time, energy or inspiration left to create with !

I was saying no to what is so important to me  in order to make a few bucks to help out our budget at a job I hated!

That stopped me in my tracks !

I let go of the have-to.

(Thanks to my cheerleaders, Mom and David, who supported me all the way through !)

Since letting go, I have received a few orders for my arty stuff that will end up paying me almost the same as what I would make in a few weeks of work at the store.

I have had the chance to complete another piece of art for possible publication.

And the best thing of all ?

I feel like an Artist again.

I am freer, more energized and more inspired than I have been in quite a long while !

I am including this story here for a few reasons.

One is so that I will remember when I come down to the have-to’s or the real want to’s of life, I need to have faith in what my heart and soul really want to do !

And also because I want to encourage you, Beautiful Ones, to think about that list of

have-to’s that you feel like you have to hold on to.

Are there any of them that you could let go of and free your self up for the things you need to do or die ?

If you are afraid, I so completely get it.

But do it anyway.

Live your one precious life, Beautiful Ones, and know

that the universe is conspiring in your favor.