The idea of “letting go” is often romanticised as a serene, calm process, one in which we simply release things that no longer serve us. But what happens when the things we are letting go of are tied to our dreams, our work, and our future? The act of downsizing and moving on from something as significant as a sprawling property with a thriving wellness business isn’t as easy as it sounds. In fact, it can bring up layers of emotions, both profound and complex.
For Ron and me, downsizing was supposed to be a logical step. Our property—56 acres of beautiful hillside, filled with animals and a flourishing wellness business—was much more than just a home. It was a livelihood, a dream, and a reflection of our past. But there came a time when we realised that we needed to free ourselves from the weight of maintaining it all, to create space for new opportunities, more time for creativity, and the potential for travel.
But here’s the twist: in my mind, downsizing was also my long-awaited chance to make Ron’s shed into something productive—a space that could finally serve its purpose rather than remain a hoarder’s paradise. I thought, surely, the process of listing the property would be the catalyst for Ron to get it together, to finally tackle the shed and turn it into a functioning space. After all, we had been talking about it for eight years.
Yet, the shed remained untouched.
That’s when it hit me—the first lesson in letting go.
Letting Go is Not Just About Things, It’s About Acceptance
Letting go doesn’t always go according to plan. I learned that lesson over and over again during the past few months. After listing our property, we embarked on a journey of house hunting. We found multiple properties that seemed to fit our vision for the future, but each time we came close to committing, something would fall apart—an offer expired, a contract ran out, or a property just didn’t feel right.
Ron and I went through the motions, debating, analyzing, and sometimes compromising. Yet, time and time again, we realized we weren’t quite ready for a change. Despite our best efforts, we were still attached to the life we had here, the work we had created, and the beauty of the land.
It became clear: we weren’t ready to let go of the property we loved so much.
But just when I thought we were on the edge of truly downsizing, life had a different idea.
Our agent suggested we take the property off the market and shift our focus back to improving and rejuvenating the space we already had. This wasn’t what I had envisioned. I had thought I was ready to move on. But the universe, as it often does, had its own plan.
Transforming What We Have
And so, here we are—still in our home, still living the wellness dream, but with a new perspective. Downsizing doesn’t necessarily mean leaving behind everything we’ve worked so hard to build. Instead, it means reimagining the space we have, simplifying our lives, and letting go of the things that no longer serve us. We can still downsize, simplify, and find peace in what we already have, without losing sight of our dreams.
In the midst of the changes, we did let go of part of our animal family. After a lot of thought, we downsized our herd of 18 goats to just 3. Two wonderful women from neighboring farms came forward to take some of them. I feel an immense sense of gratitude that these beloved animals will continue to live fulfilling lives. It’s one part of farm life that I won’t miss, but I also feel at peace knowing we made the right decision for them.
Letting Go and Holding On
So, what’s next for us? We’ve decided to focus on transforming our home, making improvements that will allow us to live more comfortably and intentionally. A new kitchen, a bath to soak in, and an extension of our outdoor space are all on the horizon.
While the itchy feet may return someday, for now, we’re committed to continuing the journey of letting go—not just of the material things, but of the stories we’ve told ourselves about what we “should” do or where we “should” be. We’re learning that letting go isn’t about abandoning our dreams, but about allowing ourselves the freedom to reshape them in a way that serves us today.