"It doesn't take a lot of strength to hold on. It takes a lot of strength to let go."
— Criminal Minds, Season 5, Episode 13
The first time I heard this quote, I was watching an episode of Criminal Minds.
From that moment, it became something that stayed with me—something that became a part of me.
We all have those moments, those words, those acts that linger long after we first encounter them.
This was one of those for me.
I began to realize I was holding on too tightly—
to the old ways, to outdated beliefs, to patterns that no longer served me.
The tighter my grip, the further away I drifted from the life I wanted—
for my family, my friends, myself… and even the rest of the world.
What I had to realize was this:
to move forward, I had to let go.
Let go of toxic habits.
Let go of harmful thoughts.
Let go of relationships that kept me anchored in pain or fear.
Letting go takes courage—not just the kind that releases the past,
but the kind that reaches for something better.
If we truly want a future where the world is unified,
where nations stand not in opposition but in shared purpose,
we must be brave enough to loosen our grip on the thinking that has held us apart.
Only with open hands can we build something new.
One thought, one heart—together.