I was watching the Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly above our inner harbour the other week and got to thinking that life is a little like the flight of one of these planes.  We soar and sweep, sometimes dipping down low life can often feel like a loop de loop as we chase ourselves in circles.  We're flying along, the sky is blue and nothing seems to trouble us and then suddenly we hit an air pocket and down we go, twirling madly as we try to find something to cling to!  Then next moment we're soaring again, everything going our way, our friends, family and colleagues flying with us, everything in sync, then one flies off on their own, but hey we're okay we've still got everyone else, then another disappears, or maybe starts twisting with their own challenges, and once again it feels like we're flying solo, no support.  But then, as we think other planes have disappeared for good, they pop up again and fly with us, once again providing that support.

Sometimes we just need to reach out to friends and family, they may not realize we're in difficulty, however once they notice they're there supporting and flying with us, other times we're giving the support and that's good too.
 
There are times in our lives that people do disappear and that's okay, they have been in our lives for a reason and now it's time for us to fly away from them.  When a friend turned 40 some years ago, she told me she had decided to be done with those people who brought her down, let her down or weren't supportive of her - she let a number of people go, she felt so much better, and it was then she realized that they were no longer supporting her, but rather the weight they carried was in put pulling her down with them. 

I often tell people how much I want my kids to fly, I needed to let them go, to have them come back to me, trusting that the lessons I taught them as young kids would hold them steady.  I've never regretted that decision, I adore my boys, but they have their own lives, and need to live them without me. I'm there if they need me, but they need to be free and I wouldn't have it any other way.

What or who are you holding onto that no longer serves you?  What would it take to let it go?  Let me know below in the comments section.
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There's a lot of chatter on social media about cutting the cord: the electronic cord.  Have you ever tried it?
I do, sometimes deliberately others without noticing. I might spend a day, a weekend without touching my computer, phone, tablet or whatever, and I feel great, missing something but not sure what!

Kovert designs in the UK designs wearable jewelry that allows people to remain connected but with boundaries, they do this through data collection and research, read the follow article from Fast Company about Koverts research and find out what happens to your brain during a digital detox, it's fascinating
http://www.fastcompany.com/3049138/most-creative-people/what-really-happens-to-your-brain-and-body-during-a-digital-detox

I read this article yesterday, and then waiting for a friend I struck up a conversation with my server about mobiles and how he has talked with so many people who immediately upon waking reach for their phones. I'm amazed, yes I use my phone as an alarm, but once the alarm is off, the phone is off until I'm awake, had my tea and maybe even breakfast before I check e-mail and all the social media I am on.  I wasn't always this way, it took me some time and work before I could turn off the habit, but it has changed my mornings. I know I can wait to see my messages, I'm not that important that I have to check them before I have worken up. I continue to have a land line, it's part of my business and my friends and family know if they need to connect with me urgently they can phone me on it. 

So why this need to stay connected?  We talk of how stressed we are, and yet, we check our e-mails and messages constantly - what would happen if you did not look at your work e-mail once you left your office at night until you arrived back the next day?  Would the sky fall?  Oh you argue, my employer expects me to be able to respond?  Why?  Are you paid to work 24 hours?  Is it you and your ego, or have you given that expectation?  The one that says my work is so much more important than my family and friends?  So today my challenge to you is, this weekend turn off for one day, can you do it?  Let me know how you fare, and if you need a little help, let me know that too... Now it's 5:00 pm, time to turn off my computer, have some tea on my deck and maybe a walk in the evening sunlight.