Even as I’ve held on, with an almost death grip, the balloons floated away along with all my hopes and dreams. Is this some mental “phase” as one grows older, the painful realization that a cherished future is no longer possible and the powerful emotional shift from holding onto dreams and finally accepting that they are gone?
Many of us have experienced the end of a relationship or friendship, some long-held ambition that has failed, a professional setback or moving on from grief. We may struggle to move beyond a given incident. Any transition we might go through can bring feelings of excitement or confusion and it feels like one more balloon slipping away. We become aware that we want more from life, feeling dissatisfied with our current status, kind of a double- edged sword which leaves us feeling energized or downright confused. From this point, a new phase may surface where we accept ourselves and others, understanding that everything has a purpose and that everyone has flaws.
This is where I presently find myself. Figuratively clutching a bunch of balloons, holding onto some for dear life and letting others go, almost with a vengeance. We all know that the inspiration by a balloon release has the meaning behind this phrase as figurative, not literal, as each one represents a hope, a dream, a goal, or intention. Colorful and light, each one holds some promise of soaring to great heights but, as they float away, the symbolism points to letting go or giving up something precious. Let’s face it, when any balloon floats away, it is an irreversible release. When any of these colorful objects disappear into the sky, there is a sense of helplessness; emptiness grasps us with a sense of fading hopes. The sight of them drifting out of our sight can be both beautiful and heartbreaking. Sometimes, even a relief.
What then, should our focus be? I keep thinking about what mine should be and that is learning, building something new and, just plain, surviving, my best answer. Any current personal phase is a temporary period in life marked by many things, it’s more fluid than a defined “life stage” and can blend with other phases, change, or persist for several years. Reaching in to explore what makes us who we are, while identifying our values and purpose, helps us to better understand ourselves and just where our place is in the world. Sound like a plan?
Perhaps our weaknesses can be mixed in with the balloons that float away but our strengths can be found with any new balloons that we grasp as tightly as possible and with more defined purpose. We then hope that our dreams don’t drift off into the wind.
From the Writer’s Workshop: Write a story starting with the line “The balloons floated away along with all my hopes and dreams.” / Tell us about the phase you’re going through currently.
