WOYWW- letting go

Good morning WOYWWers (and if you don't know what that means, see the button in the bar to link to Stamping Ground where we get together on Wednesdays to peek at desks around the world).

You'll be glad to know that this bear does now have a head. I just couldn't resist the photo when my daughter set it down on my desk while she finished the head.

The other thing on my desk is this journal page which I took WIP photos of as it developed. 

A few bits of collage from various sources. I like using foreign language books as I find that they add great texture without my brain wanting to read them.

Then a layer of gesso and some acrylics applied with a wet-wipe. I had no idea where this page was going at this stage.

 A bit of random shape stamping. The pink was a bit more vibrant than I was happy with. A swish over with a wet-wipe helped a bit.

Some water-soluble oil pastel to deepen the colour in some places and a spray of a reddish-brown watercolour and I felt it was ready for some words.

The page sat for a day while I thought about what needed to be said; what was on my mind? I stencilled a few shapes while I pondered. The words 'let go' were running through my head, so I put them down.

A bit of shadow to give the lettering more depth and the rest of the thought.

And the finished page with ropes to represent the things that are holding me back or holding me in place. The birds are there to remind me that resting awhile is OK, but (most) birds are made to fly, not be tethered to the ground. 

So what's holding you back? Which ropes need to be loosened?