Ok this is probably one of the most needed and desired topics that I can share in my Lessons From The Old Lady blog series. Time and time again I work with clients who have little peace because they are trying to maintain a sense of control and are not willing to surrender to what is. Now you may be able to relate to this because I think we all can at times. So what to do?
Well I’d like to share with you my experience of my grandma’s surrender at the end of her life. I think it will help. For several years, my grandma would always joke that each trip she took would be her “last hurrah”. After a while we learned to laugh and join in the playful nature she brought to these adventures. Actually though, it was her way of beginning to let go and accept that she would eventually die, possibly sooner than later. When she was 80 she would say I don’t want to live past 85 and when she turned 85 she would say ok maybe just till I’m 87. It would go on like that for years. When she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at 90 years old, she said, “I want to go fast”. She had mentally been preparing herself for years, even though she still lived life here in the now and with full joy and presence.
When her time finally came, she had surrendered. She knew exactly how she wanted to die, what she wanted for her funeral and she planned many aspects of her end of life experience and guess what? She got almost exactly what she wanted. She was able to surrender knowing she was surrounded by the love and support of her family. Her illness progressed quickly, with relatively little pain and she passed at home with her family there by her side singing her favorite songs.
I believe it was because of her surrender that she died peacefully and quickly like she wanted. The moments before she passed looked no different than the moments after, other than she was no longer breathing. She looked so peaceful and it reminded me of the thin line between life and death. If there is any way to go, this is the way. She showed me and others in our family that.
What are you resisting that is causing you inner turmoil? What if you chose peace and surrendered to what is? I’d love to her your response to these questions if you are willing to share.
I feel that surrender is the key to finding inner peace and joy. It’s not a giving up, it’s a letting go of resistance to something that can’t be controlled. There are many ways we give away our peace every day. What is one way you will regain your sense of peace and let go of what needs to be let go of? Please do share below.