Sunday Jack: What Freedom Is...Is Letting Go

Ever have one of those moments where your brain thinks you are going to do one thing, yet your spirit is saying no do this instead?  That's what I'm having as I am trying to write this post.  It was to be something different, but it can't be savvy?  Instead, it is an extension of the topic of freedom that I have written two other posts on:  one about freedom/patriotism and the other about the freedom to pursue your passion.  This one is about freeing yourself.

Capt. Jack is actually really good at this.  If you have watched the movies you know that he always has a dream or goal he is pursuing whether is be the Black Pearl, The Fountain of Youth, the key to unlock the Deadman's Chest..it's always something.  Sometimes he does not succeed in finding what he wants in the way he wants it, so, he alters plans, moves on, and let's it go.  Here's the freedom quote again followed by mine:

"That's what a ship is you know.  It's not a keel, and a hull, and a deck and sails...that's what a ship needs.  But what a ship is, what the black Pearl really is...is Freedom."

"That's what letting go is you know.  It's not grief, and anger, and guilt and acceptance...that's what letting go needs.  But what letting go is, what moving on really is...is Freedom."

I have a vision in my head of what I see when I say that.  I am clinging so tight to something, someone, a dream or anything really.  Life is becoming darker, more gloomy, and hopeless.  It is affecting my ability to function.  At some point, I look back and see light.  It feels peaceful, warm and safe.  It's time to let go and return to that place, at least for a little while.  It can be sooo hard to do that, but to save yourself and perhaps those closest to you, you have to do it.  There is no other choice but pain and ruin. 

"If someone you love hurts you, cry a river, build a bridge and get over it."  Author Unknown

Hmmm...that sound's a bit harsh.  True, but harsh.  Here's another:

" Letting go doesn't mean giving up... it means moving on. It is one of the hardest things a person can do. Starting at birth, we grasp on to anything we can get our hands on, and hold on as if we will cease to exist when we let go. We feel that letting go is giving up, quitting, and that, as we all know, is cowardly. But as we grow older we are forced to change our way of thinking. We are forced to realize that letting go means accepting things that cannot be. It means maturing and moving on, no matter how hard you have to fight yourself to do so."  Author Unknown
 

I like that one.  It's interesting that with age, what we have the strength and desire to hang on to changes and the focus becomes much more narrow to what really matters.  That's why when letting go, it's so hard because it may be something that really matters.  After we have done all that we can do and exhausted all efforts possible at the time, I believe that the freedom of moving on is earned.  It's selfish to cling to what you can't attain at the expense of loosing focus on what you already have.

Conversely, what you let go of, is also set free.  That can be a very healing act of selflessness.  When it's all said and done in this life, it boils down to our actions. What choices did we make at critical times in our lives.  Did we fight the good fight?  Did we accept loss or change with dignity?  Or did we choose to not let go at the right time, move forward, and free ourselves to achieve greater good.  One is progressive, the other regressive.

I like what Capt. Jack does when things don't go quite the way he planned.  He picks up his compass, gets in the lifeboat, hoists the tattered colors, smiles, and heads off in pursuit of another worthy goal.  It's ultimately freedom of spirit through letting go that allows him to do that.  And that's what he chooses to follow.