Just thinking aloud: The lost art of letting go

Just thinking aloud - The lost art of letting go

Modern life can be rubbish, right? Evie Prosser has a few thoughts about ways to make it easier

By Evie Prosser

This morning, as I walked my son to school, an angry man in a van stopped me. He’s a resident of our village and I know him to say hello to, so I stopped with a cheery greeting and an inquiry as to his wellbeing.

...why do we get worked up about trivial things, when there are so many more important things to fret about?  

Sadly, he wasn’t in the mood for niceties. He was cross that my son and I were walking, alongside some neighbours, in the middle of the road. He wondered why we couldn’t walk in single file so that he and other traffic could pass without slowing to a crawl.

It was a fair cop, guv. As I explained to angry-van man, we were deep in conversation and hadn’t really thought about our position in the road. We should have been more considerate, so I apologised and moved on.

And then I thought, with all that’s going on in the world and all the individual dramas playing out in people’s lives – might my fellow villager not have had just a bit of perspective?

Just thinking aloud - The lost art of letting goI mean, there are people suffering a lot worse than having to change down a gear to drive around a group of kids on their way to school.

And besides, the reason we weren’t paying attention is that we were having a good time. The kids were chattering away and laughing with each other, and the grown-ups were having a thoroughly enjoyable gossip. It was the stuff of life, right there, and we were loving every minute.

Which brings me to my point: why do we get worked up about trivial things, when there are so many more important things to fret about? What does it matter, actually, if the washing machine packs up or we can’t afford the latest, flashest, car? What does it matter if we don’t feel completely contented in our job, every single day. That’s life, right? We should be grateful for the good things, let the bad things go.

I know that’s far easier said than done. We all lose perspective from time to time. But today, as of this moment, I’m mounting a campaign: to help people let things go. To sit lightly to stuff that doesn’t really matter. To be just a teensy bit more relaxed.

...so often, our minds are full of stuff that doesn’t really matter: status anxiety, worries about material possessions,...  

At its most extreme, this could lead to an eschewal of modern life, akin to what the writer Andy Merrifield did when he walked a donkey through the French countryside (published in the brilliant The Wisdom of Donkeys).

But it needn’t be so extreme. How about taking a few minutes each day simply to switch off from the bustle of life? Sit on a park bench and watch the world go by. Talk a walk through a wildflower meadow. Listen to Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius. Eat a decent home-cooked meal. Have a nap. Hang out with your mates.

All of these things are recommended by mental health experts as ways to improve your wellbeing. But we’ll only really enjoy them if we empty our heads of the concerns that so often crowd in, but don’t really matter.

Just thinking aloud - The lost art of letting goI’m not saying we shouldn’t fret about stuff that genuinely deserves our worry. Impending job loss, relationship breakdown or, indeed, the travails of the world: they all warrant our careful attention.

But so often, our minds are full of stuff that doesn’t really matter: status anxiety, worries about material possessions, feeling aggrieved when we’re stopped in the street and berated for not walking down the road in an orderly fashion.

So let’s all give letting go a chance. I’m up for it if you are. I reckon we’ll be a lot happier as a result. And when someone is angry with us, or aggressive or rude, we’ll have the fortitude and patience to respond pleasantly, meeting their ire with pacific calm and a friendly smile.

And won’t the world be a better place for that?

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may like:
Ten of the most common “neuromyths”
Distraction Alert!

 

Published: 23 June 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

Jobs currently available

Lettings Negotiator
Sector: Sales
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: JC2
About the role

Just Recruitment has an exciting opportunity for a motivated Lettings Negotiator who is confident in communicating with people to join a company based on the outskirts of Colchester.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Registering and qualifying new applicants
  • Conducting property viewings
  • Negotiating offers between tenants and landlords
  • Securing lets and progressing deals through to move-in
  • Building strong relationships with landlords and tenants
  • Supporting with marketing and property listings

Skills required include:

  • Previous experience in lettings
  • Strong sales/customer service background
  • Excellent communication and negotiation skills
  • Target-driven and self-motivated
  • Well-organised and able to manage a busy workload
  • A full UK driving licence (essential)

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Multi-skilled Site Services Trades Person
Sector: Property and Construction
Salary: £15.70 per hour
Location: Braintree, Essex
Role: Part Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913728
About the role

Just Recruitment has an exciting opportunity for a Site Services Tradesperson to join an engineering company based in Braintree, Essex.

Please note that this is a part-time role — working 24 hours per week, ideally over 3 days.

You will be part of the Facilities and Maintenance team, delivering general maintenance support to all buildings.

This role involves liaising with the Department Chargehand for daily tasks and with the Department Manager for any special or additional requirements. You will be responsible for carrying out general maintenance duties, as well as conducting Health & Safety compliance checks across the factory site, including inspections of fire extinguishers, legionella water testing, fire escape routes, and fire call points.

Required skills include:

  • General plumbing – mains water and WC.
  • General carpentry and woodwork.
  • Light building works (tiling, light building repairs, etc).
  • Painting and decorating.
  • General maintenance duties.
  • Be self-motivated and organised, and able to work on own as well as in a team.
  • Driving licence.
  • A forklift truck licence is desirable but not essential.

Hours of work:

  • Monday to Friday, between 07.30 to 16.00.
  • Hours negotiable, ideally 3 full days.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Commercial Assistant
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913727
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing business based on the outskirts of Colchester, looking to add a Commercial Assistant to their team.

You will be responsible for supporting the Commercial Team in managing the financial and contractual performance of their projects. Primary functions of this role include administration, pricing and agreeing variations, client liaison, query handling and contributing to the efficient running of the department.

Key responsibilities include:

  • Reconciling and archiving completed jobs.
  • Document control and administration.
  • Updating internal reporting records.
  • Raising and agreeing variation costs.
  • Assisting with negotiation and agreement of order terms and conditions.
  • Communicating with clients and internal departments as required.

Experience/skills required include:

  • Experience in an administrative role.
  • A confident communicator, both written and spoken.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to multitask.
  • Computer literate with good working knowledge of MS Office.
  • Good numeracy skills and a high attention to detail.
  • A willingness to learn and take initiative.

Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week.

Please note that, due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Full Stack React Developer
Sector: Information Technology
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Colchester, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913726
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing, well-established and market-leading organisation, who are looking to recruit a highly motivated Full Stack React Developer to join their team — to work across a variety of digital products and website projects.

You will be involved in the development of new client projects and will also work on the maintenance and development of existing projects.

You must have the ability to accurately code design layouts.
As a Full Stack React Developer, you will be expected to develop bespoke WordPress themes (not a theme modification).

Skills required include:

  • Knowledge in creating WordPress-based websites.
  • Exposure to server-side JavaScript and APIs.
  • Proficiency in modern JavaScript features (ES6+).
  • Strong experience in HTML and CSS.
  • Have experience working in an agency environment.
  • Experience with Version Control systems (Git).
  • Development in line with accessibility standards compliance and SEO best practices.
  • Experience using build tools (Gulp, webpack, Sass).
  • Experience with automated deployment.
  • Experience integrating third-party APIs.
  • High attention to detail.

Desirables include:

  • Proficiency in React and JS frameworks.
  • Exposure to Web Security principles.
  • Exposure to Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Exposure to ThreeJS.
  • Exposure to GraphQL.
  • Understanding of unit and integration testing.
  • Know your way around Figma.

Hours:

This role will initially be full-time in the office. After the initial period, the working pattern will shift to four days in the office and one day working from home each week.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
Transport Coordinator
Sector: Public Service and Administration
Salary: £26,000 - £28,500 per annum
Location: Halstead
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913723
About the role

Just Recruitment is supporting a well-regarded business based in Halstead who are recruiting for a Transport Coordinator to add to their team.

You will be responsible for planning and coordinating the transportation of goods and materials from one location to another.

Key tasks include:

  • Answering incoming calls, giving product information, lead times, dealing with general enquiries and queries — redirecting calls to relevant departments.
  • Planning and coordinating the movement of goods between locations using various modes of transportation.
  • Communicating with customers, drivers, carriers, and other parties to ensure smooth and timely delivery of shipments.
  • Maintaining records and reports of transportation activities and transactions.
  • Scanning documentation.
  • Arranging couriers and/or carriers as required.

Role key requirements include:

  • Strong communication, organisational, problem-solving, and multitasking skills.
  • Excellent computer skills.
  • Good eye for detail.
  • The ability to work well under pressure.
  • Courteous.

Preferred experience includes:

  • Previous Transport Coordinator experience gained within an office environment.
  • Customer Services experience would be desirable.
  • Excellent telephone manner with the ability to communicate at all levels.
  • High level of attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office and experience with in-house systems.
  • Ability to multitask and prioritise own workload.

Hours:

  • Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.00pm.
  • Friday 8.30am to 14.30pm.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more