--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 6 published: 1903-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "The Art of Letting Go," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 6 (April 1903): 428.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0606unse start_page: 428 end_page: 428 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0606unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The Art of Letting Go 428 IMPROVEMENT ERA. of becoming parents. These may be called the misguided. They are intelligences of a high order, in some special directions. These shun marriage under the impression that it interferes with the development of their so-called genius, and use such argument to justify themselves in their chosen course. In this thought^ they are mistaken, from the fact that the becoming of a consistent parent enhances, rather than diminishes, one's powers and excel- lence in any direction. Then^ even if this latter statement were not true, and the choice between standing on the pedestal of cold worldly fame, or sitting on the throne of household happiness were given, who that has known both would not choose the latter? "Home, home, sweet, sweet home." Parenthood means home. Home means happiness. Happiness means heaven. THE ART OF LETTING GO. We held on to a great many things last year which we should have let go,—shaken off entirely. In the first place, we should expel from our minds completely the things which cannot be helped,- our past misfortunes, the trivial occurrences which have mortified or humiliated us. Thinking of them not only does no good, but it robs us of peace and comfort. The art of forgetting useless things is a great one, and we should learn it at any cost. It is just as important to learn to let go as to hold on. Any- thing that cannot help us to get on and up in the world; anything that is a drag, a stumbling-block, or a hindrance, should be ex- punged from our memory. Many people seem to take a positive pleasure in recalling past misfortunes, sufferings, and failures. They dwell upon such experiences, and repaint the dark pictures until the mind becomes melancholy and sad. If they would only learn to drive them out, and banish their attempts to return, as they would banish a thief from the house, those painful thoughts would cease to demand entrance. We want all we can get of sun- shine, encouragement, and inspiration.—Success.