lobolance

 Thinking about shoulder tension; watching my manager, and reminding her that when it comes to releasing tension, the exhale is more important than the inhale. I recognized the tension in her upper body; I know it intimately in my own. 

I treasure good stories. Always have. Some, particularly through my teen years, I read over and over again (I still occasionally reread Susan Cooper's *The Dark is Rising* this time of year, though not this year).

I loved mysteries as a kid, in addition to science fiction (which was really hard to find). Robert Arthur (I think more than one person wrote under the name, which horrified me when I found out! :-) ) wrote the Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators series. I have kept about eight of those books ever since.

A little later, I fell for S.E. Hinton, particularly *The Outsiders* and *That Was Then This Is Now* (just like every other outsider reading kid in the 70's ;-) ). I also kept all of her books. I probably read those two thirty times each (I also had most of her others, like *Rumblefish*).

So, this weekend, I gave those books away. To a couple of kids, one set to a boy of about 9, the other to a girl of about 17 (who I really! hope reads them), offspring of friends of mine. Unfortunately, neither kid was around for the passing on. Sigh. Hopefully I'll hear later what they think of 'em.

Anyhow, the real point is... I let them go. Those books are inside of me, part of me (just like Kirk and Spock :-) ), and their physical existence in a box in my garage is not nearly as useful a thing for them or me as for them to be read by someone else. So, I passed them on (still in good shape, I can say). It was a big deal.

I've been working on decluttering for a long time... but now it's moved on to letting go.A deepening. I gave away my water ski (it's too small for me these days, twenty years out of date technology wise, but a huge reminder of something that was a love and important to me), in hopes it will bring happiness to someone else. Being used is a lot better than being in storage.

It's kinda hard work, letting go. I am finding doing it in stages... naturally?... works best. I still feel moments of heart anguish (and sadness), but I also get real satisfaction in thinking I am sharing something of value... both the objects themselves for their intrinsic value, and at least when I give things to people I care about (the mom got a silk vintage kimono I loved), there's some passing on on my ... vibe? love? energy?... as well.