Letting Go

A tough one, no? 

Sometimes it is, sometimes it is not?  It's all about knowing the timing.  Actually feeling the timing more like.  This is the key to letting go, no?  I have just dropped my young five year old daughter off at her summer surf camp.  It was hard to say goodbye.  She didn't go storming confidently in.  She needed to look around, take it all in and let her sensory overload calm down before facing the noise of activity.  But time was ticking, the camp was starting, the kids were getting their surf boards.  But if I stay any longer I will just be a prop to her that'll only hold her back.

I could've of hung onto staying, clung onto waiting for the perfect moment to leave. But instead I said my goodbye and left, my heart was aching.  It was hard to let go.  Did I get the timing right? I think the timing chose me.  I wanted to stay with her, play with her, surf with her.  Push her on those waves and jump high five's with her.  I wanted to be in the surf camp with her but of course that defeats the whole object of her catching her own wave and then riding her own wave. 

So how does this link with The Highwaygirl I hear you ask?  Well it was kind of similar with my book.  I wrote it.  It took two years but it could've taken five or ten or more.  I could've hung onto it for a long time.  Clung onto it waiting for the perfect moment as to when it would be finished.  I could've laboured and toiled over it, striving for perfection.  I could've put it in a draw (as is always recommended) and then gone back to it with fresh eyes months later.  I could've given it to friends and family to read and wait for feedback.  But I didn't do any of the above.  I didn't do any of the standard recommended advice.  I wrote it in one go and then I let it go, in one go.  I let it go to catch its own wave, ride its own wave.  And just like my daughter I hope it actually catches one.