Hold it Lightly

I hope you are all doing well. As I write this I am flying to North Carolina to attend my second graduation ceremony in 24 hours. My son graduated from high school at 4pm today (Sunday) and my daughter will graduate from college at 9am tomorrow (Monday); perhaps just as you are reading this newsletter.

My own practice in the weeks leading up to these events has been to allow myself to feel the emotions around both my children graduating and moving on to their next chapters without getting swept up. I can say that at times I have felt carried away for a moment and then I breathe and allow the sensations to move through. 

We know how this works in our bodies. We acknowledge the pain and discomfort and then we have a choice about whether we wallow or we find acceptance. Sometimes the tendency both on and off the mat is to resist the feelings, bottle them up or pack them away in a box. This shuts us down not only from the difficult or painful experiences, but the beautiful, poignant ones as well. 

My son looked so happy today as he took his diploma and walked off stage. Afterwards he hugged us and then was heading to a celebration as we went to the airport. I felt such happiness and pride mixed with a poignant sadness. As I  gear up for the next wave of those emotions I am pausing and holding them as lightly as I can.

After my daughter’s graduation the two of us will be taking our time with a couple days in Asheville as we drive her car back to Florida for the final time.  She will likely be experiencing her own flood of emotions as one chapter ends and the next is set to begin. I will remind her that it’s a gift to feel the joy of a wonderful experience and the sadness of it ending mixed together. We have space to hold them all, lightly.