When we moved into a retirement community
I was faced with something
I hadn’t thought about when I was younger.
Downsizing.  Letting go.
To move from a larger home
filled with things 
collected and saved over many years
to a much smaller home
requres sorting through every single item you own
and deciding what to keep and what to LET GO.
It’s agonizing.
Each item has so many memories, 
so many stories.
You hold each item in your hand
and you re-live the moments associated with it.
Some items bring a fond smile.
Some items bring tears.
Some items bring thoughtful reflection.
You sit there going through it all
and it’s like your whole life
is passing before you.
The message in your head says,
”Let go.  It’s time.”
The message in your heart says,
”If only there was a way to keep everything...
or most of it.”
And in this whole process
you learn so much about LIfE.
There’s always going to be some agony in life.
But, thank goodness, there’s going to be ecstasy as well.
There’s AGONY in letting go,
releasing what was once yours,
letting go of bits and pieces of yourself.
Yet, there’s ECSTASY in realizing
that after letting go,
LIFE GOES ON.
The sun still rises.
The sun still sets.
The moon still shines.
The breezes still blow.
There is still LIFE to live.
There is still LIFE to experience.
And, yes, the agonies will still come,
but there’s ECSTASY
in being able to wake up each mornig
and enjoy the blessings of another day,
and live the day as fully as possible.