I’ve been observing my cat recently. Kitty is the queen in our house. Mollie and I know this, and for the most part, pay her the obeisance she commands. This includes making sure she has her playtime first – and for as long as she wants it. Then Mollie gets her turn.
Occasionally, if Kitty is asleep or occupied elsewhere, I will initiate playtime with Mollie. Invariably, Kitty hears and comes to investigate. And of course, interrupts and demands her turn.
So, I switch my attention and begin playing with Kitty. But rather than taking advantage of what is now her chance to run and jump and chase and stalk, she takes her displeasure out on Mollie. Kitty half-heartedly plays for a moment or two, then breaks off to glare at Mollie. When her anger builds to a point where she can no longer contain it, she chases Mollie off. By now, I have lost interest in playtime and move onto something else. Kitty’s playtime ends.
Because Kitty holds a grudge, she gets a much shortened playtime. The opposite of what she really wants.
Seeing this mirrored so clearly has helped me consider where I display similar behavior in my life. Kitty reflects human nature. Many of us have situations in our lives where we nurse our anger or our hurt or our resentment just like Kitty. And just like Kitty, we lose out on the equivalent of playtime – the joy and the opportunities of the present moment.
All we have to do is let go.
Just like Kitty, we can’t simultaneously hold on to our resentment and play freely. We can’t both hold on to our pain stories and our wounds and move forward in our lives. There isn’t room for both. Holding on to the hurt and the pain occupies space, time and energy. That space, time and energy is no longer available to create peace, joy, love, balance, freedom, or _______{ fill in the blank }_______ with.
I invite you to ask yourself this:
Am I going to hold on to my hurt and anger? Or am I going to let it go and make room for what I really want in my life?