Today is Michaelmas—the Feast of St. Michael, the warrior angel known across cultures and centuries as the one who fights battles too heavy for us to carry.

And on a day like today, I’m thinking about what we carry that we don’t need to.

Because when you lead, when you influence, when you try to make a difference—you’re going to get scraped. And some of what scrapes you can feel like B.S.

But in this case, I don’t mean bulls***. I mean belief systems, burdens and stuff that builds up over days, weeks, months… and slows us down.

Letting Go is Survival

Neuroscience shows us that when we’re under stress, our vision narrows. Literally. The field of view shrinks. We miss the context, the bigger opportunities, the second rhino charging behind the first one, or the rare blue-green parrot that could’ve inspired us.

In short: when we’re fixated on the irritation in front of us, we miss everything else.

We hold onto pet peeves like heirlooms. We retell old slights like they’re stories that need to be passed down. But the truth? They cost us energy, clarity, and connection. And the more you carry, the slower you go.

A Culturally Universal Truth

We’re tribal. We don’t survive alone. And part of being in a tribe is helping each other carry the load—and knowing when it’s okay to put something down.

Which brings me back to the other culturally universal idea: every civilization has a concept of a protector. A higher force, or a spirit, or an angel—one whose job is to fight the stuff we can’t.

Maybe today’s the day you give that heavy thing up. Not to forget it. Not to condone it. But to stop letting it drag behind you.

Try This Today:
1. Find something you’re still carrying—a disappointment, a missed follow-up, a dumb thing someone said last week.
2. Ask: Is this helpful? Is this useful?
3. Then say:
– “Thank you for what was good.”
– “I’m letting go of what no longer serves me.”
– “I’m doing the next right thing.”

Do This for Others, Too.

Everyone’s carrying their own bag of rocks.

When someone drops the ball, misses a deadline, or fumbles a conversation—offer grace. It’s one of the few things we can give freely, without needing it returned.

Because the point of giving grace isn’t to be owed something. The point is to be the kind of person who keeps the tribe going.

And maybe the tribe needs your light more than your judgment right now.

Final Thought

You didn’t cause the storm. You can’t control it. You can’t cure it. But you can choose not to keep standing in the rain.

Let it go. Give it up. Move forward lighter. And help someone else do the same.