Have you ever had to let go of a person, a place, or a thing you loved dearly? Saying goodbye is a natural part of life. Every day, seasons change, people pass away, relationships end, things get old and have to be thrown out.
As a writer, I often have to let go of the words I love. It’s easy when the work is not my own. As an editor, I go through every article that passes through me with a sharp set of shears, snipping away at unnecessary words in order to come up with a well-groomed piece that meets my required word count.
But when it comes to my own work, it’s a painful process, like cutting off my own fingers. When I wrote the first chapter of my new adult novella a few years ago, my words were like my children. They manifested themselves in my brain and my heart, and I was so inspired as I typed them out on my computer. I carved and polished them to perfection, before sending them off into the world.
When that novella was rejected by a local publisher last year, I had to take a good long look at my manuscript, and eventually made the tough decision to let go of that first chapter—the one I had carefully crafted and poured my heart into. It was hard, but necessary, if I wanted my first chapter to be strong and exciting enough to hook my reader.
This year, I had to let go of a lot more than just my words. I said goodbye to a dear cousin who recently passed, to a hardworking and talented team that I love, to a job that was as enjoyable as it was stressful, and to a company that I considered my second home for the past twelve years.
Of course, there were tears. There was—or rather, there is—fear and anxiety. But there is also joy. And there is hope. Because when one chapter ends, a new one begins.
Sometimes, it’s easier to hold on to the familiar, to stubbornly stay rooted in one place. But every time we let go of something, we make room for new things to grow—for new people, experiences, and stories to enter our lives. We just have to learn to welcome them with open arms.
The August 2017 issue is my last as managing editor of Good Housekeeping Philippines. After 12 years and having handled several titles for Summit Media, I can truly say that it has been a wonderful and fulfilling journey. I will be eternally grateful to all the people I’ve worked with, the opportunities I’ve been given, and the lessons I’ve learned in the process. Today, a new adventure begins and I’m excited for what lies ahead. #PassionOn
Angel C. Aquino 