Hey there !

Rusty was the one who gave me the nickname “Leech”.  It happened when a bunch of us were playing a game of “kill the man with the ball” at Sue’s birthday party.

I think it was in 5th grade – all I know is that I was pretty scrawny back then. Tackling anyone, especially boys, was beyond me.   But I made up for size with tenacity and stubbornness.   Whenever I caught the kid with the ball, I would hang on for dear life until my teammates got there to finish the tackle.

I can still remember clinging to Rusty’s leg, being dragged through the grass, as he kept running to avoid getting tackled.  I simply WOULD NOT LET GO.

Thus, the name “Leech”.
 
I share this with you now because being a “leech” may have worked in “kill the man with the ball”, but it doesn’t serve you or me when it comes to achieving our goals and dreams.  It doesn’t support abundance – something I was reminded of recently.

Since September, I have had a goal to have a new, rebranded website up by January.    Throughout the Fall, I’ve had fun writing content and creating it with the designer.  I was in FLOW – letting it unfold and come together in its own timing.

Then, a few weeks ago, she said her team needed all content by December 11th in order to finish before their holiday break.  She also reminded me that that she was leaving right after New Year’s for a 3-week trip to Africa.  Bottom line, if I didn’t get the rest of the content done by the 11th, the new site wouldn’t be up until FEBRUARY!

Suddenly, everything changed. 

I started working long hours on weekends – not spending as much time with Dan and the people I love.

I was setting my alarm for 4:30 so I could get up and get to work early – and drinking 3x my normal amount of black tea to give me energy. 

Despite waking earlier, I was spending LESS time in prayer and meditation.  I didn’t do my yoga or go on walks as consistently.

All other projects – biz and personal – came to a standstill.

What had been purposeful, creative, fun and flowing was now filled with pressure, struggle, and fear.

WHY?

Because I was ATTACHED to having it done by January! 

Back when Rusty was dragging me all over Sue’s front yard, he finally DID figure out a way to break free.

I remember hanging onto his leg for dear life, bouncing along on the green grass when he started to run toward the wide expanse of cement that was Sue’s driveway. As we got closer, I knew I had to make a choice.

Either I had to let go of his leg or I was going to be seriously hurt by the cement.  
I remember hanging on as the pavement loomed closer.   It was only when Rusty reached the very EDGE of the pavement that I finally LET GO.

And here’s why I’m sharing this story now…

There ARE times in life when it serves us to be tenacious and stubborn – to not let go of a dream or goal even if things get a little bumpy or uncomfortable.  But the God of Love who created us will NEVER ask us to knowingly harm or injure ourselves for those dreams and goals.

Losing sleep, working long hours, ignoring family and friends, pushing yourself and stressing out in order to accomplish a dream or goal is like letting yourself be dragged across cement simply because you refuse to let go  – maybe because you think that letting go is quitting, failing, admitting defeat.

The God who created us wants to work FOR us, WITH us and THROUGH us to create good in our lives and the world.  When we get attached to the when and how and if our dreams will happen, we wind up FIGHTING God instead of WORKING WITH God and trusting in something bigger than ourselves.

Letting go – becoming un-attached – to the how and when of the dream actually OPENS us and supports the dream (or something better) to happen with greater ease – sometimes even more quickly.

Last Tuesday was the day I LET GO of having the new site by January.   (Note:  I did not let go of the dream of the new website, just MY timetable of when it would happen.)

The moment I did, my entire body relaxed.  Almost immediately, ideas for content, design and direction started FLOWING again – and I am clear that the website we launch in February will be better than any website we could have launched this month.  And I will be able to enjoy my life in the process!

Which leads us to you, …

Is there some dream or goal that you are holding onto so tightly that it’s causing you harm?   Large or small, could it be that your attachment to it happening (and the how and when) is actually getting in the way?  Could it be that you are FIGHTING God instead of WORKING WITH God?

Is there any chance you’re being a “Leech” right now and the pavement is looming?  

If so, it’s time to let go, ... 

You REALLY CAN trust in something bigger than you, your own efforts and your timetable. 

xoxo

T.

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