My ‘Close Casket’ Moment: Putting an Old Chapter to Bed
So, today I wanted to share something a bit personal, what I call my ‘close casket’ practice. It’s not as grim as it sounds, I promise. It’s more about finally, and firmly, putting something to rest that’s been over for a while, at least in spirit.
For me, this was a long-running commitment I had, a volunteer thing I’d been doing for ages. Years I poured into this. When I first started, man, it was great. Loads of energy, everyone was buzzing, and we were actually getting stuff done. Felt like we were part of something, you know?
But then, over time, things kinda shifted. New people came in, the direction changed, and it just started to feel… heavy. Like a chore. The meetings got longer and less productive. That initial spark? It just fizzled out. I found myself dreading it, but I kept going, mostly out of a sense of duty, I guess. Felt like I had to.
I kept telling myself it would get better, or that I was too involved to just walk away. But honestly, it was just draining my batteries. Every time I went, I’d come back feeling more tired and a bit annoyed. It was like I was keeping something on life support that really just needed to be allowed to die, at least for me.
The Point I Knew It Was Over
The actual ‘close casket’ moment, the point where I knew I was done, came after one particularly frustrating session. Nothing got decided, lots of talking in circles, and I just sat there thinking, ‘What on earth am I still doing here?’ It was like a switch flipped. This thing wasn’t serving me, or anyone else through me, anymore. It was just… over.
So, I decided that was it. The next day, I took a deep breath and made the call. Politely, professionally, I explained I wouldn’t be continuing. There was a bit of surprise, a few questions, but I just stuck to my guns. Said my piece, thanked them for the past, and that was that.
The feeling afterwards? Pure relief. Like a massive weight had just been lifted off my shoulders. Suddenly, I had all this extra time and mental space. It was amazing. I hadn’t realized how much it had been weighing me down until it was gone.
So, that’s my practice of ‘close casket’. It’s about recognizing when something is truly finished for you, even if it’s hard to admit. And then taking that step to formally close that door. No bad feelings, just acknowledging it’s time to move on. Sometimes, you just gotta respectfully shut the lid and walk away for your own peace of mind. No use pretending something’s alive when it’s already gone, eh?
