I'm Ready to Let It Go

 by Charlotte Bennardo

By now you know the theme is "Letting Go." There are so many things we let go: dreams never realized (I'm never going to be an Olympic swimmer), impossible expectations (size 6 is forever lost), out of reach goals (okay, I wanted to be another JK Rowling. What author doesn't?)

Yes, letting go can be hard. Things that we wanted so desperately we have to acknowledge will never be. 

But letting go is a good thing. 

That dream about never being an Olympic swimmer has turned into a dream realized because after a year of medical trauma- bad covid, bronchitis, torn rotator cuff, hip replacement surgery, broken leg- my dream to get back in the pool and swim like I used to has been realized. I swam a mile without pain and was ready to go another.

Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-wearing-yellow-swimming-cap-on-swimming-pool-73760/

Those impossible expectations? They put too much stress on me. My world will not fall off its axis because I'm no longer a size 6 (and haven't been for a few years, truth be told). By letting go of that expectation to lose weight and shrink myself, the stress is gone, along with the clutter in the closet--and I can get clothes that flatter me and make me feel vibrant. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-wearing-sunglasses-994234/

And that out of reach goal? There's only one JK Rowling, and it's not me. My goals have to fit me. That doesn't mean I don't have my successes: I've gotten novels, stories, and articles published. I've seen a line of over a hundred people patiently waiting for me to sign my book Currently, publisher is reviewing one of my manuscripts, and I'm querying agents. I've had people tell me how much they loved my work. I have my Master of Fine Arts. I'm still writing-and will continue to do so. My latest story, published in the anthology Goodbye For Now: True Stories of Life, Love, and Loss is now out. By sweeping away the out of reach goals, I've found the goals that fit me.

And that's what letting go means; clearing out the unwanted, the unrealistic, the outdated for the new, the grounded, the I-didn't-know-I-wanted-that. It means a fresh start, exciting chances, and thrilling surprises.

So, let it go...

Charlotte writes MG, YA, NA, and adult novels and short stories in sci fi, fantasy, contemporary, horror, paranormal and romance genres. She is the author of the award-winning middle grade Evolution Revolution trilogy: Simple Machines, Simple Plans, and Simple Lessons. She co-authored the YA novels Blonde OPS, Sirenz, and Sirenz Back in Fashion. She has several short stories in anthologies and online, along with newspaper and magazine articles. Having finished her MFA, she's applying what she learned and is working on several children's and adult novels and short stories. She lives in NJ but dreams of a Caribbean beach house.