Letting go

Black and white photo on iPhone

Perhaps one of the best apophthegms of all times is by Heraclitus: “There is nothing permanent except change”. Whether we like it or not everything will change in our lives, even if we do whatever we can to preserve the artificial sense of permanence that seems so essential. I took this photograph when I first visited the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. It is an early 4th century B.C. Greek funerary stele and it depicts the traditional gesture of farewell dexiosis between a standing young man, and a seated woman (the deceased) possibly his mother. I was captivated by the sculpture for two reasons. Firstly, because I have always been fascinated with the human hands and all forms of Art that depict them. In this case, I find the carving of the marble to be exceptional. I will explain this fascination probably in another text. Secondly, because all my life, I have been avoiding farewells. Avoiding to let go of people, animals, objects, opinions and beliefs. Yet the benefit of embracing change is unmeasurable. Once I started practising letting go of insignificant to more important things, I realized how many great opportunities and meaningful experiences are out there ready to be grasped and lived. Life is so rich that when lived to its fullest, one time is enough.