to be alive in the not knowing

the practice of letting go beautifully 

Being human means learning, again and again, the art of holding and releasing. Of loving fully while knowing nothing is promised. It’s not so different from the creative process.

We begin with fragments of inspiration—an image, a phrase, a feeling. We gather them close, turn them over in our minds, and slowly shape them into something that feels whole. We nurture these ideas, stay open to what wants to emerge, and devote ourselves to the unfolding. Eventually, we reach the point where the work no longer belongs to us in the same way. A piece is finished. A chapter closes. We release it into the world.

People are like that too.

They arrive like seasons. Some stay for a while. Others pass through quickly. All of them leave something behind. And in our longing for permanence, we try to hold on—to the closeness, the connection, the comfort, the feeling of being seen and known. To the shape of something that once felt certain, and very much like home. Even the love that stays invites us, again and again, to let go a little.

But just as we must let go of the work we create, trusting that it had its time with us, we also have to let go of what can no longer be held.

Non-attachment doesn’t mean indifference. It’s a kind of devotion that doesn’t require possession. It’s presence without expectation. A willingness to be all-in while it's alive, and a willingness to loosen our grip when the moment shifts.

To create, and to love, is to embrace the truth that everything is always changing. Even what feels solid can take another shape. And still, we show up. We continue to create, we continue to love, and we continue to learn how to let go. Because somewhere deep within us, we understand: the point was never to hold on. The point was to be moved. To shape something with meaning. To live and let go, beautifully.

© Alana Foy 2025