Let it Be
A song I started and ended my days with, a song I often had on repeat just two years ago. A year in which I walked away from a marriage after 26 years and lost my dad. I had no idea that in the same week I was filing for divorce, I’d also be filing for my dad’s death certificate. Or that I’d change my address four times that same year.
My youngest was a senior in high school—a year that should have been one of the most enjoyable, memorable, and fun years for all of us. While it certainly was all of that, it was also a year of crazy roller coaster emotions, and a lot of grief.
When my dad passed, I knew I wanted to do a tattoo in his honor; however, I needed a deeper meaning than “just a tattoo for dad.” One day, while napping next to a pillow my sister made from my dad’s old painting T-shirts, with a patch of his “famous” fudge recipe, I started to see the letters of one of my favorite songs, "Let it Be," which ironically enough was playing through the speakers. It was also a tattoo I’d been wanting to do.
I asked my sister if she still had the original recipe, and within ten minutes, she had emailed it to me. An hour after that, I had copied, cut, and pasted Dad’s recipe to create the title of my favorite song in his handwriting. As messy as his handwriting was—something I’d often comment on 😊—I love it and appreciate it even more today! An added bonus was that the recipe had “2s” and “7s,” which I incorporated into my existing tattoo to represent my date of birth. I had my tattoo appointment scheduled for two days later 😊
That year of divorce, death, graduation, moving, empty nesting, new employment, and new community—as exciting and challenging as it was—was also filled with grief, fear, confusion, sadness, anger, and ultimately, strength. In addition to my weekly therapy appointments, I leaned on my support circle. I journaled, walked, found peace in nature, live a life of gratitude and so much more. Self-care is a daily practice! Sometimes, I’ll walk down the street to the restaurant and order dessert first, or dessert only. Sometimes, I lay on the floor with my head in a pillow, screaming and sobbing and pounding the floor for however long it takes. Though those days are less and less!
Many of my days back then, and still today, I find myself living more and more like the song reminds us to do—especially during those challenging times when we can't make sense of it all, when we wonder why it’s happening and how it could get any worse. All the questions we throw at the universe when obstacles get in our way.
During some of my toughest times, this song reminds me to trust the process, to have acceptance, embrace change and the present moments, and find strength in letting go. Find opportunities in our obstacles and learn from the lessons.
After all, there will be an answer…. 😊
“Let it Be” – a gentle reminder to trust in the journey, no matter how uncertain or challenging it may be.
Allow the lyrics to encourage you to let go of worries and trust that everything will eventually work out.
It’s more than a tattoo, it’s more than my dad’s handwriting, it’s more than a song. It’s all of the above AND a way of life.
