I'd like to share a story with you. There were two monks who were going on a long silent journey, together. The order of monks from which they belonged were not allowed to talk with or come in contact with women. When they came to a flooded raging river in front of them they noticed a woman in distress. She was stuck in the middle of the river on a rock with her skirt around her ankles, trying to get across. The older of the two monks picked the woman up and carried her across the river to safety. Later, when the two monks broke their silence and made camp, the younger monk condemned the older monk for carrying the woman across the river. The older monk gently replied to his companion, "I let that woman down hours ago, yet you carry her still."

This story beautifully illustrates for us, those things we hold onto in our lives which drag us down. The younger monk obsessed about the broken vow of the older monk for hours after his companion helped the woman cross the river. Imagine all the wonder he missed because he "carried" this burden for the rest of the day and wouldn't "let it go". What opportunities for peace and joy do you miss because you have trouble letting go?