By Lacey Okamura
Staff Writer
I was typical doom scrolling on social media one day, avoiding my homework by mindlessly swiping past video after video. Nothing caught my eye or grabbed my attention, until I came across something that stopped me in my tracks.
The clip was extracted from a YouTube video by the creator Brittany Broski, who is primarily known for her comedic content. It was not Broski’s comedy that made me pause, but rather a powerful quote she said: “I am trying to let go of things that do not serve me.”
Broski went on to describe how she will leave claw marks on those things because while she loves them, she knows they are no longer good for her. It was an emotional minute of dialogue that brought tears to my eyes. Her words left me with such a profound feeling that I was left reflecting on the message.
We form a lot of physical and emotional attachments to things, whether it be our phones, our clothes, or even our friends. It is hard to imagine our life without them. These things have all at times brought us great joy, but they can also be a source of pain.
Phones and social media have reached the point where they consume our lives. When was the last time you went anywhere without your phone? How long have you gone without opening a social media app such as TikTok or Snapchat?
Our automatic instinct is to put our heads down and open our phones, even if we do nothing but stare at the home screen. This kind of attachment prevents us from engaging and interacting with real people. Life goes by fast, and we miss out on so much that we don’t even realize.
Letting go of material things can be difficult, but nothing is harder than letting go of a relationship. I recently found myself in a position where I had to decide what kind of people I wanted to surround myself with. Someone who I had been very close to for years had turned into a person I couldn't recognize, and I was continuously hurt and frustrated.
It wasn’t until I heard Broski’s words that I was able to convince myself that letting go of this friendship did not make me a bad person. I think I will leave a lot of those claw marks she spoke about, but I also know my future self will thank me for putting my well-being first.
We’re all at a point in our lives where we’re going through a lot of change. As we decide what paths our careers will take us, we should also reflect on what can improve in our lives right now. Ask yourself whether or not the things you prioritize in your life are benefitting you in any way. Are there other things or people you can be giving greater attention and love to that will serve you even more?
I know what I am asking is not easy. It took me a while to accept the attachments I had made in my own life that needed to be let go, but I’m proud of myself for doing so. We all have things that do not serve us anymore, and while those claw marks may run deep, letting go will benefit you more than you know.
