Letting go of the last word

Describe a decision you made in the past that helped you learn or grow.

I didn’t always take a step back. In fact, I was quite the opposite. I used to be quick to anger, quick to react, and even quicker to lash out without really thinking it through. The kind of person who would fire back in the moment, only to replay it all later and wonder if I’d made things worse, which I usually had.

So a while back, I made a decision that, on the surface, didn’t look like much. I decided to read up on Wicca and Buddhism. Originally I wasn’t looking to convert, but simply to understand. To see if there was something in those pages that might quiet the noise a little.

What I found wasn’t some grand revelation or lightning bolt moment. It was quieter than that. Subtler.

A shift.

Through those readings, I started to understand the idea of letting go. Not in a careless way, but in a deliberate one.

The notion that not everything needs my reaction. Not every slight needs to be answered. Not every storm needs me to stand in the middle of it shouting back at the wind.

There’s a kind of peace in stepping aside and letting things unfold as they will.

It echoed something I’ve come to believe over time—that life is fragile, and perspective changes when you’ve seen enough of it to know how little control we really have. 

So now, when something happens—when someone says something they shouldn’t, or life throws one of its usual curveballs—I try (not always successfully) to pause.

To breathe.

To remind myself that karma, or the universe, or whatever name you want to give it, has a way of balancing things out without my interference.

And in doing so, I’ve grown.

Not because I’ve stopped caring, but because I’ve learned where to place that care. Less in the chaos, more in the calm.

Stay safe
BC

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About Bob W Christian

Bob W Christian has been writing poetry for more than 20 years. He started as a way to help to process his thoughts and emotions as an autistic man, and to address the impact of CPTSD. As he wrote, and slowly gained the confidence to share his poems, he was given incredibly positive feedback, which spurred him to write more. During that time, he has written six books, and had numerous guest publications in books and magazines around the world. His work has earned several accolades recently, including recognition in the Dark Poet’s Club 2025 competition. Alongside poetry, Bob enjoys photographing nature and birds, and is often praised for his keen eye behind the lens. A husband, father and grandfather, he regularly shares his observations, reflections and creative work through his personal blog, The Ramblings of Bob Christian.

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