What habits or beliefs did you leave behind this year that made you feel lighter? I’ve had many habits in my life, and each one has managed to creep in very subtly, but letting go is often very difficult. That’s why, as this year comes to a close, I promised myself I’d let go of many habits and beliefs that made me feel lighter; among the things I’ve let go of are friendships that don’t lead to anything good—those that only come around once in a blue moon—since I feel they aren’t right for me, even though sometimes certain people might think otherwise. Friendships are like the lucky charms we have in our lives—they make us happy and show us what we’re made of—but often spending time with them or even just exchanging a message becomes an obligation. Back then, those things kept me busy, and I saw them as an obligation; that’s why I let go of friendships that weren’t moving at the same pace as I was. Although it may seem harsh, I can tell you that this has been very helpful in my life; I only keep those who add value and are part of my inner circle.

¿Cómo identificas cuando una etapa ha llegado a su fin y cuál es tu ritual para despedirla? Esto es sumamente fácil, ya que considero que algo ha llegado a su fin cuando en este se pierde el interés, las ganas de continuar y la forma de poder estar. Esto aplica para trabajos y relaciones amorosas, aunque siempre es atribuido a las relaciones de pareja. Entonces, en este sentido, sabemos que hemos llegado a nuestro fin cuando las cosas se pierden de su rumbo y el interés es otro aspecto que sumar para continuar. Para despedirla es sumamente fácil para mí, ya que no me apego a las relaciones y mucho menos a las amistades; siento que quien quiere estar es bienvenido y quien no, es más sencillo dejar ir. Es por eso que hoy en día muchas son las relaciones que viven en conflictos y con ese apego emocional porque son personas a las que no les enseñaron a dejar atrás lo que hace daño o no nos quiere en su vida; igualmente aplica en el trabajo, cuando sabemos que nuestra utilidad ha sido consumida y cuando llegan otras personas a tomar riendas y somos reemplazados. Cada uno de estos aspectos hace que la vida resulte más fácil de dejar y sanar.

How do you know when a phase has come to an end, and what’s your ritual for saying goodbye to it? This is extremely easy, since I consider that something has come to an end when I lose interest in it, the desire to continue, and the ability to carry on. This applies to jobs and romantic relationships, although it’s always associated with romantic partnerships. So, in this sense, we know we’ve reached the end when things veer off course and maintaining interest becomes just another hurdle to overcome in order to continue. Saying goodbye is extremely easy for me, since I don’t get attached to relationships—let alone friendships; I feel that whoever wants to stay is welcome, and for those who don’t, it’s simpler to let them go. That’s why so many relationships today are marked by conflict and emotional attachment—because people weren’t taught to leave behind what causes pain or what doesn’t want us in their lives. The same applies at work, when we realize our usefulness has run its course and others come in to take the reins, replacing us. Each of these aspects makes it easier to let go and heal.