First You Let It Go
by
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I am a crone. Not what Merriam Webster refers to as a withered old woman, but rather, a woman who is willing to acknowledge her age, years of experience and individual power. A crone is a woman past menopause who has learned how to deal with the many aspects of life through years of observation and practice.
My initiation as a crone was attained through heartbreak, loss, and abuse, as well as through laughter, joy, and love. Everything came in the same package called Life. It’s what I did to transcend each situation that mattered. The universal teaching is that no matter how challenging something may be, life persistently moves on, with surprises and discoveries every day. It’s what we do with our challenges that makes or breaks us. I’ve learned my lessons the hard way—perhaps it’s the only way—through trial and error. My history includes time when I’ve keep the coals of blame and anger glowing brightly for time beyond reason. Other times, I’ve managed to let go and move on with ease. It’s always been a learning process.
The reality is that, through my evolution of becoming a crone, I have learned to recognize and honor that my purpose in life is to share joy. I am here to appreciate the wonder and beauty of life as it is, right here, right now. I am here to help remind anyone with whom I share my thoughts, that we all have individual bits of life unfolding; we all have the unexpected, the challenges and concerns. All we can do is live through them the best that we can. I am here to remind myself and others of the myriad ways to let go and move on.
My intention, in these pages, is to show by example some of the ways in which I arrived at these moments of letting go. I let go again and again, and so have you, it is our only way. No matter how much we may resist the process, it is our only way to evolve, it is our only way to find the capacity to deal with each new challenge that comes. Challenges and letting go are the givens in our lives. This book describes just a few.
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About the Book
“First You Let It Go is invigorating, consoling, heartbreaking, funny, informative, philosophical, adventurous, courageous, and inspirational. I found myself in awe of her risk-taking ability and also completely resonant with her emotions, fears, anxieties, angers and her way of dealing with them. Her honesty and heart come through.”
—George Breed, PhD, author of Embodying Spirit: The Inner Work of the Warrior
“This is an inspiring chronicle of a woman’s search for self. Her adventurous trek around the world as a single, senior woman is captured with dramatic imagery overlaid by insightful commentary of the universal human connection.”
—Jerry Lopper, author of Jump for Joy! Clearing the Hurdles to an Easy Life
“First You Let it Go is for anyone who has ever made a change, or wanted to change—in short, a book for everyone. Written with warmth and wisdom, joy and honesty, you’ll read it with your passport in your hand.”
—Sheila Dickson, PhD in psychology
“It is an honest account of loss and renewal. First You Let it Go is filled with insights that find an immediate home. The author will move you towards optimism, and you will not want the journey to end.”
—Denice Helwig, chief of staff, Humboldt State University
About the Author
After a focus of study in the liberal and expressive arts, Shiana Seitz shares her insights in community publications and poetry gigs. The stories within are taken directly from personal life experiences, and represent the ways in which she inhabits the world—inevitably stepping into the unknown with joie de vivre. Currently, she leads workshops especially for women who are middle-aged and beyond to help remind them of ways to be energized by allowing curiosity and imagination to inspire creativity.