Hofstra Family Connection

Yesterday, during our first Parent and Family Orientation day, the first group of parents and families, Class of 2019 (Welcome, new Hofstra families!), heard me speak about letting go of the control we exert over our children, and how hard that is for us mothers, fathers, family members. They also heard about my yoga tribulations and my wonderful yoga instructor, Tomoko, and her exhortations to let go. In our last class, Tomoko read a beautiful poem about letting go, not necessarily only in regard to our children, that touched me. Here it is below. What are your thoughts and feelings when you read this poem? 

"She Let Go" 
by Jennifer Echert Bernau

Without a thought or a word, she let go.

She let go of fear.
She let go of judgments.

She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head.  
She let go of the committee of indecision within her.

She let go of all the 'right' reasons.
Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.

She didn't ask anyone for advice.  She didn't read a book on how to let go. She just let go.

She let go of all the memories that held her back.  She let go of all of the anxiety that kept her from moving forward.

She let go of the planning and all of the calculations about how to do it just right.

She didn't promise to let go.  She didn't journal about it.
She didn't write the projected date in her Day-Timer.

She made no public announcement.  She didn't check the weather report or read her daily horoscope.
She just let go.

She didn't analyze whether she should let go.
She didn't call her friends to discuss the matter.

She didn't utter one word.  She just let go.

No one was around when it happened.  There was no applause or congratulations.
No one thanked her or praised her.  No one noticed a thing.
Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.

There was no effort.  There was no struggle.

It wasn't good.  It wasn't bad.
It was what it was, and it is just that.
In the space of letting go, she let it all be.

A small smile came over her face.
A light breeze blew through her.

And the sun and the moon shone forevermore.