Happy Monday, friends! I hope you all had an amazing weekend. I was lucky enough to be able to dive into Beth Hoffman’s fabulous, beautiful novel, Looking for Me this weekend. Set on a Kentucky farm and in downtown Charleston, it is a story as lovely as its author, full of quotable and must-underline phrases like this one: “Sometimes it’s not what we hold on to that shapes our lives–it’s what we’re willing to let go of.”
To me, this quote really sums up this novel. The mysterious disappearance of the protagonist Teddi’s brother Josh, her move from her Kentucky farm to follow her dreams in Charleston, and the decisions she must make along the way are all about that precious, fine balance between holding on and letting go.
It’s a dance that we all do our entire lives, I think, one that Beth Hoffman portrays perfectly through this character in such a relatable way. Knowing what to hold onto and what to let go of in love and loss, good memories and bad, the way we raise our children, the way we communicate with the people we care about… It’s all about this one, key pearl of wisdom that Teddi’s Grammy Belle passes on to her granddaughter in one of her toughest moments.
Our ability to let go–just like Teddi’s–is the only thing that opens the door for us to move forward, that gives us the strength and courage to chase our dreams, to be brave enough to be vulnerable in any area of our lives. Grammy Belle is right: It is the holding on that keeps us paralyzed right where we are.
I could probably talk about this book forever; it’s one of those rare gems that is so entertaining and page-turning but also really makes you think. That kind is my absolute favorite. Can’t wait to tell you more about it later on in the week!
I hope you all have an incredible Monday and great week to come! Thanks for visiting me today!
This sounds like an excellent book. I love that quote!