Postcard on Letting Go

There is no time like now.

I recently made a hard decision. It involved severing ties with a project I had poured my heart and soul into last year. A project that demanded my time, creativity, and so much more. I had high hopes for it, but life has a way of reminding us that not everything unfolds as planned.

Letting go was a struggle. I knew deep down it was time to move on, but I found myself mourning the time, energy, and resources I had so generously invested. I grieved for the dreams and expectations that once fueled my passion.

Eventually, I had to force myself to do the needful. It was clear that holding on would only lead to more disappointment, more loss. I remember telling myself, “Odi, the only thing worse than spending a year on a futile project is spending a year and a minute more.” That realization made it easier to let go.

When we’re entangled in situations that no longer serve us, hope can sometimes blind us. We cling to the belief that maybe tomorrow will be different, that things will turn around. We do this with projects, with people, with so many aspects of our lives. It's human nature—we’re sentimental beings. But growth requires us to confront hard truths, to develop an inner voice that’s brutal enough to call out our own self-deceptions before they become too costly.

What are you holding on to that needs letting go? Maybe it’s time to walk away from that job you dread, or to release a relationship that no longer nurtures you.

One unspoken rule of adulthood is this: never let sentiments trap you in a situation you should have left long ago. Yes, the best time to cut ties might have been three years ago, but the next best time is today.

And before you think of the man who gave up digging just inches away from gold, remember—that’s not the story I’m telling here. I’m talking about those moments when you’ve done your analysis, and your gut is screaming for you to stop. Listen. It’s time to move forward.

As you go into the new week, I pray you receive the courage to let go of all that no longer serves you.

- Odinakachi Nwonu