This is very much the other side of last weeks post.
In 2003 I bought a Honda Element. It was blue. It was the only one they had on the lot, and I loved it. As much as you can love an automobile. After 22 years, and 247,000 miles it is the single best vehicle I’ve ever owned. It did everything I needed it to do, and carried more than I ever could have imagined.
Not unlike it’s owner, the motor was still solid. It was all the bits and pieces that were wearing out. The expense of replacing those pieces made keeping the old girl on the road unreasonable. It was time to let it go.
It wasn’t an easy thing to do. I had a goal of getting the odometer to at least 300k. I hadn’t had a car payment in forever, and I wasn’t keen on having another. I was also concerned that no new vehicle was ever going to give me the years of trouble free use that my old Honda did. But in the end I had to buy a new car.
This happens with bicycles too. I’ve seen it so many times. Bikes kept that were ill fitting to begin with, or bikes designed for a type of riding that you haven’t done for years. Held on to, in many cases, out of sentimental reasons.
We have a tendency to cling to things. Exactly why this is I don’t know. That would be a question for a psychologist. Or maybe a Buddhist.
At the end of the day the thing-whatever it may be-needs to serve you in the present moment. When it no longer does that go ahead and appreciate the good times spent. But let it go.