Letting Go

Copyright Tattered Edge 2009

So I thought I would share a story about something really cool that happened this time a year ago and what I learned.

A year ago, I was approached by a large US company about licencing my artwork. I was really excited about the idea and a little scared- working out the fine print and entering into a legally binding contract can be challenging, never mind if you're dealing with another country!

I talked with the company's representative and they told me what they had in mind and asked that I do some work pertaining to their vision. I did and I sent the specs off to them. At that point, the rep dropped the ball. I waited a month before contacting them, then sent an email. No response. I was a bit miffed, but I also knew this person travelled overseas alot, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt and waited.

Meanwhile, I was thinking about this who deal, alot. It occurred to me that if, at this early point in our working relationship, they weren't communicating, it was a good indication of things to come. Anyone who knows me know that I like to be on top of things, that it's very important to me that there be good organization and communication if I am going to be working with someone. Integrity is everything. If I say I am going to do something, I do it and I expect the same in return.

At first I was feeling pretty annoyed and disappointed about things stalling just as they were getting started, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt that I needed to trust in what I knew to be true-what I know from experience is that the universe never lets me down. If something is meant to happen, it just falls neatly into place-that is the magical quality of my life. Conversely, if something isn't meant to happen, there are big red warning signs that I will see, if I am paying attention. The more I thought about what was happening (or not happening), the more I felt okay about letting this opportunity go. I just knew that this was not the right time.

As it turned out, it was the right thing to do. Sitting here a year later, I can't imagine having to juggle fulfilling a contract while dealing with all the health stuff I've been through in the last while. It would have quite possibly been crazy-making. Sometimes it pays to be still and listen to what your instincts are telling you.

Don't get me wrong-it would have been so easy to chase that dream, but I think there was wisdom in letting it go. It doesn't mean that I will never do that kind of work. Someday I might be lucky enough to have the opportunity offered to me again and if I do and it feels right, then I'll go for it.

One of the most important things I've learned in my life is that saying no to one things allows you to say yes to something else. If you let something go, you allow space for something else to come in. You can't receive anything if your fist clenched tight. I look at this whole experience as a reminder of that.

It reminds me of the line the Stones made famous:

"You can't always get what you want. But if you try sometimes, you find you get what you need."