YK’s 365 Release: Day 1

Though it may seem like an effortless task, I can tell giving 1 thing away every day for a year, is going to be a creative challenge. Because I cannot simply toss one thing away, but must give it to someone, this means I have to actively think about who would want what i am releasing for the day.

I want this to be as deliberate and intentional as possible, so instead of making an announcement post for anyone to claim an item each day, I would like to be mindful about who I am giving the item to. the former would certainly be easier, but my objective is to learn how to let go of things in a conscious way.

I will keep a meticulous record of this process, and will document it here. There will be some days I will not be able to post immediately because I am traveling, adventuring or simply not able to get to my computer. But all posts will eventually make it up here.

For the first day, I am giving away a piece of my artwork. this is perhaps one of the most difficult things for me to let go, which is precisely why i am choosing it for my first endeavor. No, you may not have it, I already have chosen someone to receive it.

It takes me days to create a piece of artwork, and each piece carries with it extraordinary effort, history and love. though in my guidelines for this project i stated i must have had something for at least 1 year, this will be my one caveat, because it is something I created myself, and therefore even more close to me. I do not give away art often. I have done it only 3 times over the last 15 years, and one of those times was my mother. so you see, this is in fact, one of the hardest things for me to release.

So with that act of letting go of a piece of my artwork, my lesson today is to let go of the things that i would most hold onto. I feel good about releasing this piece, partially because I had already prepared a couple of days ago, to give it to someone specific. In the future, however, I am sure I will not have that time to let go, and that will be a lesson unto itself.

I am looking forward to this exercise I have set up for myself. I feel like the objects i release will carry positive energy and will flourish because of it.

With each release I will be more free, not because I will have less objects, but because I will have less attachment.