Letting go. A few weeks ago, I went to go get a haircut and the hairdresser said, “I notice a few grey hairs here.” Part of me reacted,” really?” and then I thought “it had to happen sometime.” As I have gotten older, I have had to accept that there are things I am no longer able to do. Honestly, the truth is, it is kind of freeing!
When I was in college, I loved to run. Running is very healthy as it keeps a person in shape and at the end of a run, the feeling is incredible because you have activated a lot of endorphins. About 15 years ago, I injured my right foot from running and the doctor gave me some advice. “If you want to keep your knees, quit running.” Since then I have had to stop running. The reason? My left knee really hurts afterward.
Part of grieving is letting go of things you were once able to do. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that because it is reality. If you are disappointed that you cannot do something you once were able to do, it is perfectly alright to grieve the loss of that activity and come to terms with what you can do instead.
If you are still passionate about what you were able to do but no longer can, is there a way you can substitute that with something else? I am not able to run, but I can walk on the treadmill.
I am not able to stay up late like I used to, but I can set the DVR to record Stephen Colbert. Look at your loss no matter what it is. Accept it, make peace with it.
If you are looking for a therapist near you and a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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