196 – Hold v2

I didn’t realize how much we hold onto things until writing the first essay, then reader comments expanded my initial thoughts. This is a blend of readers’ comments from the first Hold essay and additional thoughts from me. Thank you readers for your contributions.

Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.

I like to walk on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

We crave connections: the physical, emotional, and spiritual. We form and hold connections from the moment we are born to the moment we die. We hold hands, ideas, and beliefs. Eventually, we hold onto self-awareness! 

We hold onto something because it can be a sense of security – especially in times of insecurity. We hold certain truths to be self-evident, such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, while our holds on bitterness, anger, and resentment challenge us. 

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We hold on to our hearts and minds – especially people, places, things, and memories. But we also hold on to hope because, during difficult times, we hold firm to the ramp of hope to navigate the difficult path. 

Hold is a reluctance to move sometimes that is within us. We hold onto memories of the departed who have been dear to us. Memories allow the departed to be among the living and keep them a part of this world. We hold on to my memories because I know they are fading, and they are part of me.

When someone passes, we hold on to their stuff like it was ours. Well, maybe it was. Some of us want to hold on to it, but others want to place it in the trash. Others must hold it one more time before letting go. 

Unfortunately for some of us, dementia and Alzheimer’s break those connections, and the person can’t hold onto all the things that anchor them – so they drift away like a boat no longer held to the dock.

Holding on can deliver both mental and physical pain. Back pain from too much gardening, too much sitting, or other reasons? But these can also be signs or metaphors for life’s burdens and demons that we need to release to remove the psychological and physical pain. 

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We hold on and hold off. We proclaim, “To have and to hold’ til death do us part.” Life changes as we age, but if we hold the love, we are good til the last drop.

Nobody likes being on hold or in a holding pattern on a plane, but do you remember when people put merchandise “on hold” in a store? 

We hold onto many things in life: grudges, hats, hands, noses, tongues,  breath, memories, court, horses, forts, aces, and all the cards. We can even hold back tears and hold on tight. While some hold the purse strings, others hold their liquor and hold on tight while holding hands. 

There are no holds barred while holding one at arm’s length, but we hold others’ feet to the fire while holding our heads high. After all, if we hold our mouths the right way, we can say the right things and do things right. 

Holding onto something and holding on to someone are very different despite being the same. We hold onto much in life, but that could be part of being human. 

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We hold onto things we think are obligations – but they are not. Things that we don’t have time for – but because it is part of us, we hold on to them – and our blogs are an example for some of us. 

I’m holding on to these thoughts and all the other essays I created here. It’s been fun, and full of memories – plus the delight of engaging with people from across the world. Hopefully, my time here will continue because it doesn’t feel like an obligation. Well, at least not yet. Thanks for reminding me to be more present in the moment as I hold onto it – whatever ‘it’ is. After all, I like to walk on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.

See what other bloggers have posted about Hold

• Romance is What Holds (a poem)
• Hold Right with Palms Wide Open (a short story)
• On Writing: Characters on Hold (an essay)
• I Hold My Pen Once Again (a poem)

Next Post: Boundaries – Saturday 26th August @ 1 AM (Eastern US)