Letting Go

I’ve recently started going further into what I can only describe as a “letting go” stage of life. I’m letting go of old ideas, old expectations—and most noticeably, my possessions. Things I once thought I needed to feel secure or successful don’t seem to hold the same weight anymore. And honestly? It feels freeing.

There’s a saying I keep coming back to: less is more. I never really understood it until I started living it. Letting go of clutter—both physical and mental—has made space for something I didn’t realize I was missing: peace.

Living in the Bay Area, it’s easy to get swept up in the idea that more is always better. More stuff, more success, more hustle. Even though I wouldn't say I was part of the tech world, I still felt the pressure to keep up. There’s a certain energy here that makes you feel like if you’re not constantly grinding, you’re falling behind.

But the more I let go, the more I realize I don’t want that kind of life. I don’t want to chase things that don’t align with who I really am. I want simplicity. I want depth. I want to feel connected—to the people I love, to the work I do, and to myself.

Photography has helped with that. It’s not just a creative outlet—it’s a way of seeing. It slows me down. It makes me pay attention to the light, the textures, the quiet details. And lately, those small things have felt more meaningful than anything I could buy or check off a to-do list.

I’m learning that letting go doesn’t mean giving up—it means clearing space. Space for presence. Space for clarity. Space for the kind of life that actually feels good to live.

I’m not doing this perfectly. I still hold onto things sometimes—out of fear, out of habit. But I’m learning. And every time I release something that no longer serves me, I feel a little lighter. A little closer to the version of myself I’ve been trying to reconnect with.

This season of life isn’t about adding more—it’s about stripping things back to what truly matters. And in the process, I’m discovering a quiet kind of joy I didn’t even know I was missing.