Your mind drifts off into the physical element of catch and release. You imagine a ball being tossed in the air and a hand stretched forth to catch it. Did you burrow deeper? Did you visualise a scenario in your past or present life that may mirror such a gripping title/phrase?

I’ll pitch a few scenarios to provide clarity on the appeal of the title. First up….friendships! As per many relationships, some friendships require more investments than others. Some merely exist for the purpose of entitlement or benefit, these friendships may either fade depending on personal growth or diminish over time. There are also friendships that require daily nourishment in order for both parties, or one, to feel nourished, sometimes leaving one party feeling depleted and the other fulfilled. There are friendships that are similar to cactus and survive the longest droughts without requiring a drop of nourishment to sustain even the most turbulent changes in weather. In the above circumstances, how have you felt given the title being ‘Catch & Release’? If you had to, for your own mental well-being, release any of the above examples of friendships/relationships, how would you feel?

In many cases, the demise of friendships or relationships occur due to an individual feeling uncertain, insecure, abandoned, used, a shift in the balance, varied opinions on values or morals, or simply a lack of love and attention. Now, previous generations would address the issue in person, whereas today’s society simply eradicate the individuals out of their social settings, interactions, etc yet this provides no real or genuine closure but simply places a lid on a clear jar!

Individuals shudder to receive face to face ‘confrontation’, text msgs, phone calls, emails fearing responses which may cause disruption to their mental stability instead of being open to embracing the experience and allowing themselves to learn, cope and sustain what is needing to be vented. Not dismissing anxiety as a disorder, as we all face levels of anxiety whether mild or extreme, but we have now evaded the basic level of response, ownership, acceptance, opportunity to counteract, dismiss or even agree with another’s opinion. So many have become completely sensitive that society now panders to these behaviours instead of providing a gentle reminder of the basic elements of survival – we all have to eat and we all can be fairly primal.

Let’s shift the attention and limelight and place it onto our kids. We grasp them close, not realising in some instances we haven’t allowed them the ability to stand firmly on solid ground. We have infact impaired their ability to walk. We are reminded that time does not stand still. We are constantly in a state of rush that we believe any given moment we must cling onto for in the blink of an eye these kids will become adults and we will be faced with the gloom of a barren nest. Yet, in our own disguised selfishness, we have not provided our kids with the opportunity to swim, to engage, to soar high, to drown, to fail, or to rise again. We have hindered them from many experiences which can only be self taught. In our over abundance of love for our kids we have been blinded by the developing demise of our pure intentions which have manifested into enabling our kids to inevitably fail at the basic requirement to survive.

Let’s now look inwards at ourselves and the relationships we have with ourselves. For many generations we were guided or instructed to follow a profession that provided wealth in monetary form. We were encouraged to seek success in the fields of medicine, science, accounting and law to appease what our parents denoted would bring us financial security and stability. Then, there was a shift in this thought process, as through experience those who entered into these fields without heart felt the remuneration could not satisfy their mental well-being or provide them with sustenance, security or stability. Those rolling in an abundance of cashflow, were never emotionally satisfied, they yearned for more, gambling their financial wealth away, cementing poor investments, losing sight to the importance of life. So we had a switch in outlook and we were advised to lead with our hearts, to release previous mindsets, reset, and develop and invest in our passions. We were reassured that following our hearts would fill a void no amount of cash would be able to suffice. Did this help? Or did we have to release the new age idea of following our hearts and passions as well as we couldn’t sustain a lifestyle which seemed fitting to us?

In many circumstances the phrase ‘catch and release’ pertains to relationships (friends, family, acquaintances, etc) and other situations have been quite personal and are battles we house within ourselves. I believe sometimes an extension in the grasp is required not necessarily a release but, in some special cases it is healthy to also release. Depending on the scenario, a little love, nourishment, pruning and understanding can revive, replenish and revitalise all which is seemingly lost. Value those that you catch, and if you choose to release, make sure you are satisfied with the decision. In some cases, you may need to retrieve the ball and simply try again!