Let the Sun Go Down On 2015

SunsetI snapped this picture of the sunset last night and it occurred to me as I drove into one of the last sunsets of 2015…
What if we just let the sun go down on all our mistakes this year? Our losses? The times we wanted so badly for the answer to be yes but it was no? The times we tried our hardest and still failed? 
The tears we cried, the friends we lost, the first dates that never turned into second dates, the missed deadlines, the “almost” lovers.
The bad hair days, those few pounds we forgot to lose, the broken nails, the broken HEARTS…
The dreams that didn’t come true, the unanswered prayers, the New Year’s resolutions we forgot to keep, the broken promises, the disappointments, the deferred hopes, the sleepless nights.
The wrong turns, the detours, the setbacks.
The rejection, the misdirection, the guys who disappeared without explanation. 
The people who hurt us and didn’t deserve us.
The fears, the worries, the doubts.
The times we almost gave up on ourselves.
The times we forgot who we are.
The times we wondered if we would be forever alone.
…What if we just let the sun go down on all of it? What if we let 2015 keep every single bit of it? What if we simply refuse to let the darkness and the losses and the hurts and the letdowns win…and when that clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31st…be brave enough to try again?

If you need a little help letting go of all of these things (and whatever other baggage you happen to be carrying)…my Guide to Letting Go & Moving On can be downloaded right now FREE from the homepage when you preorder my new book Beautiful Uncertainty. And Beautiful Uncertainty is only $4.99 right now on Kindle, Nook, & iBooks. Two books for $4.99! Let’s start 2016 with open arms & a clean slate!

Comment below with whatever you’re letting the sun go down on in 2015…

29 Responses to “ Let the Sun Go Down On 2015 ”

  1. December 29, 2015

    That is very true, ya l am letting the sun go down on all the regrets & the could have beens, l actually dd something symbolic today l took a white sheet of paper & l wrote all the this l needed to leave this & all the people l have to let go & forgive after that l took the paper & burned it to ashes & then scattered the ashes in the garden for me its all over gone.

  2. Shannon
    December 29, 2015

    That 2015 didn’t quite bring me what I was looking for but I feel like I’m a lot closer to it going into 2016!

  3. Ana ortiz
    December 29, 2015

    Just 2 days ago he ghosted on me after having a beautiful xmass together and making me breakfast and Saturday a great dinner. Some guys are just plain evil. But im letting the sun go down 2016 will bring me better things

  4. Suzanne
    December 29, 2015

    Amen!! I’m in! More than happy to leave it ALL behind in 2015!!

  5. Jersey scout
    December 29, 2015

    I want to let the sun go down on all my setbacks,insecurities,my ex,my negative and toxic friendship,my personal fear,doubts and negativities,and worries and to let go of what’s holding me back to my personal success to my journey of growth and independence.

  6. Jennifer
    December 29, 2015

    2015 gave me the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. And, as much as I long to leave all of the bad and heartache behind, as much as I want to leave him–the one who broke my heart so deeply I fear I may never love again–I know that a piece of 2015 will always stay with me because it forever changed me. As I approach 2016, I am learning how to trust again. I am learning how to believe in myself again. I am learning how to love again. I am learning all of these things as I learn how to let go of the person I thought I’d be with forever. And leaving him behind is like mourning a death. But I know I cannot dwell in this place…I have to forge on ahead to the unknown. At times, fear overwhelms me, and I struggle to have faith that God has a plan that will prosper me. But, I know that He is faithful and His word is truth, so I am desperately trying to cling to that. Starting a New Year is bittersweet…I don’t want to let go of him, but I know I need to move on. So, I wipe away the tears, take a deep breath, and step out in shaky faith that this year…2016…will be a better year.

    Thank you Single Girl for your encouragement. It is what I need to hear and it gives me the confidence to step forward.

    • Angi Vassar
      December 29, 2015

      This is absolutely beautiful. My life. In a nustshell. It hurts to let go but it hurts even more to hang on to someone that you need to let go of.

    • Raymie
      December 30, 2015

      You have summed my whole year perfectly.

    • December 30, 2015

      J=nnifer, your comment could have been mine in every way. Word for word, you captured exactly what I have felt the last few months. I wish you God’s peace in the New Year. May he bring you peace, comfort, and understanding and many blessings.

    • Kaylin
      December 30, 2015

      Sounds like we are going through the exact same thing, Jennifer. God does have a plan and I believe everything happens for a reason. We are strong individuals that will eventually find happiness, maybe even in being along (if only temporary). I’m praying for you, myself, and everyone going something similar to find peace and healing. Good luck in 2016!

    • Jennifer, A Single Sister in Christ
      January 6, 2016

      Angi, Raymie, Sherry, Kaylin–thank you for your beautiful words of encouragement. They touched me deeply. There is a sort of comfort in knowing that others are walking a path similar to your own. (And reason 562 why I find myself loving this site and all that Mandy does to suppot us all!)
      Thank you, Ladies, for your empathy, support, encouragement, and prayers. I share with you the verse God keeps bringing to me in the hopes that it encourages you. Claim it! Proverbs 31:25 ” She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
      We are beautiful and God has a plan for each of us. We just need to hold on a bit longer. Part of His plan brought you to encourage me. Thank you. This is our year. This is the year where our strength will be seen, we will believe that we posess dignity, and we will laugh at what is because we know our heavenly Father is perfecting each of us.

  7. Vonya
    December 29, 2015

    I’m. Letting go of old pain from.ex lovers near lovers, old friends, old enemies
    . I’m not dwelling on the rejection anymore
    I chose me

  8. Janet
    December 29, 2015

    All of the above Mandy. ALL of the above…your words of encouragement are a blessing to me. I find peace just knowing I’m not in this fight alone. To keep my dignity, my sanity, my hope. Thank you for the inspiration that you are. God is using you to reach people like me with your words of wisdom. Thank you! And may God continue to bless you through 2016 and beyond!!

  9. Angi Vassar
    December 29, 2015

    Nutshell *

  10. hina
    December 30, 2015

    My thoughts are are almost similar to Jennifer and I also felt same amount of pain this year. I am all alone due to one wrong decision and he left me alone without thinking a bit about our long long relationship. I felt dejected and of no substance this year but I know 2016 will be better as I got a very harsh life lesson in 2015 which I will never forget in my life. 2016, be my friend please 🙂

  11. December 30, 2015

    Yesterday, I came across Paulo Coehlo’s post on Closing 2015 and reading it madecme realisexI do need to close the chapters, get rid of the souvenirs and memories to make room for new ones. Hanging on and hoping for what will never be is a habit I need to leave.
    Your post has more or less the same advice. IThe first date that never turned into a second, the guy who just left, the one who remembers I exist when in his presence. I decided to burn this year’s journal (something I have never done since I started keeping one), the art pieces and the poems. I do not want reminders of the saddest period in my life.

  12. Jackie
    December 30, 2015

    2015 began with a sudden loss, a miscarriage shortly after my Ex moved back to New York practically overnight. There was alot of confusion and untruth which cumulatively was very painful. Half the year was spent in she’ll shock and by summer did I start trying to emerge. Only now can I say, I am on the other side of the disappointment, a full year afterwards. It took till 2016 to be finished with grieving and healed from all the shocks. So for 2016, I let go of my former love, the comfort of his memory even when it was unpleasant, and all the hopes of that relationship. The unknown offers more happiness than what was.

  13. Chantal
    December 30, 2015

    2015 came and it’s finally over. Today, I finally wrote a final letter to myself and promised to let go of what never existed. The heart ache, pain, rejection, emotional abuse all ganged against me. The first date turned out with lots of regrets and even the person I trusted the most, turned her back on me. It has been hell of an emotional and painful journey. I have worked on myself, hit the gym and even became an active runner. All these obstructed me from re-visiting my past. We cannot hold onto the past but at the same time, memories will always be there. 2015 has been real. I have dusted myself and walked away from too much negative energies and emotions. 2016 will be a better year. YES I BELIEVE

  14. Margaret
    December 30, 2015

    2015 changed my life. I lost my mother in March, then finally realized my LDR was pretty much over without me really realizing what my SO was doing, won’t go into all of that. I am going through the stages of mourning both my mother still, now the relationship that never grew into a positive direction. I just live day by day. I hope 2016 will be easier, as I plan on working on ME.

  15. Denise
    December 30, 2015

    To quote Mandy : “What if we simply refuse to let the darkness and the losses and the hurts and the letdowns win…” . I too have been facing obstacles, challenges, things that go right, then go wrong. People that are undeserving of my attention after I realized that I was chasing my own tail. The whole point is with Mandy’s quote is to be in CONTROL of the way you think, and build new memories to erase and fade the bad ones. Hurts and letdowns cannot ever win, if you choose to not let them. It is a choice. We all have that ability. It is not so much as strength, as is it courage and common sense. I am 58, and can assure most that nothing is predicable. If you build a wall, then be prepared to stay behind it. If you CHOOSE to take the wall down, expect the unexpected, the good, the bad, the great, the not so great. Life is not a perfect science. Fantasies of how we want things to be are just that : FANTASIES. Reality is knowing that things just may not go exactly as planned. Most of all, even those that appear to be living the dream, are truly NOT…. At some point, things shift, change. Just expect change and ACCEPT it. The journey of life is beautiful knowing that you have the ability to not participate in a bad relationship, for whatever EXCUSE you may have. Always, always, always……… there are options. If it does not feel right, ABSTAIN !! A New Year is a perfect time for soul cleansing and a rude wake up call to those still hanging on to Cinderella dreams. Live life to its fullest, with our without a ” man”………..
    Cheers,
    D

    • Debbie Beneitone
      December 30, 2015

      I lost my my 24-year-old baby girl in a tragic car accident in August. She too was single raising a little boy he turned five in September. The two of them have both live with me since day one. She was in a toxic relationship and ultimately was the cause and her death. They were fighting in the car he was driving. Her son remains in my care so I am now raising another child at this part of my life. I was blessed to have him as she lives in him.. I will keep my heart and eyes open but at this point it will have to be somebody spectacular to change my status from single. I am so busy but happy I don’t feel I need a man to make me complete. I don’t even know that I have it it takes to give my love to somebody else’s my heart is so broken from the loss of my daughter. I will at some point be an advocate to talk to these young girls who think they deserve to be with a man that is not nice. I have my 27-year-old son whom I spend as much time as I can with also. He lost not only his sister but best friend. I wish each and everyone of you ladies the best of luck and I hope that you can all find love and happiness….
      Cheers to a better year ❤️
      D

    • Mandy Hale
      December 30, 2015

      I’m so very sorry for your loss, Debbie. Praying for your heart. For healing. For God to wrap His arms around you in this New Year like never before.
      xo, Mandy

  16. She
    December 30, 2015

    Lying to myself, when I settle for a sliver of what I deserve in a potential suitor…

  17. TW
    December 30, 2015

    @ Mona. I did something very similar on Monday Dec. 28 (which is known as “Good Riddance” Day. I wrote down all the stuff of 2015 that I want to leave in 2015. Once the list was completed, I shredded it. Just today a wise pastor said that we must make adjustments going into the new year. Because of some of the stuff that happened in 2015, I realize my worth, I will no longer chase anyone (except maybe the ice cream man. LOL). And most of all, as much as I hate to admit it, I realize now that maybe I was not ready for a relationship. in fact, I don’t think either of us were. But because of some very recent turn of events, maybe (just maybe) we might be ready in the near future. At this point, I’m starting to believe that ANYTHING is possible. Happy New Year, Everyone

  18. pratima bhagat
    December 30, 2015

    True above what is written every line is worth saying for me exactly i face such delimma in my 2015 year. heart broke,trust break,and my biggest loss my dear one , i miss each and every time but its ok… i think i do not let them understand my articulation or may be they do not feel the same the way i felt….but always i cherish this year i learn i become strong thnk u guys 4 everything u mean the world 4 me….

  19. Joli Coeur
    December 31, 2015

    I am letting the sun go down on all the worries, the disappointment, the failure and the regrets. I am looking forward for a new year full of joy and i am most than ever willing to try again be it love, career and realizing all that I am setting as New Year resolutions…Bring it on 2016 I am more than ready to live and enjoy fully this new year!!!

    Thanks Mandy for this writing, really needed this to end the year wooohoou!!!!

  20. Neeka
    December 31, 2015

    Thank you Mandy for the reminder. I believed many lies that were told to me in 2015 and was lied to for majority of year. I was in a relationship that started on lies and ended on lies. Everything came to the forefront on the day after Christmas. Nevertheless, I have to make a change as I move into 2016. Truly believe that GOD has the best in store for me and has plans to prosper me. I need to believe that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and will not settle. I need to be happy in Him being single. I will also not make the same mistakes moving forward. Thanks to God for second chances and new beginnings.

  21. Charina
    January 1, 2016

    Your words Mandy really sums up my life and my struggles. It’s been a year since I walked away from a toxic relationship. It wasn’t easy but the journey of healing made me appreciate my life, myself and my Savior more and more each day. Instead of wallowing with self-pity, I learned how to forgive him and how to forgive myself. It was a humbling experience to be alone , and in being single I cling back to my first love, Jesus. He is teaching me to love Him more and to love others. I insisted to love someone who was not meant for me. I was not ready to be in a relationship because I myself did not know how to love. Reading all the comments here made me feel that we are all in the same journey and God used The Single woman to make us feel He loved us first and He wants the best for us. 2015 will always be remembered because in this year I have found myself and I learned how to let go of everything that wasn’t for me.

  22. January 7, 2016

    Life presents many obstacles during various season in all of our lives, regardless if we are single married, divorced, etc. The key principal to always remember is when life hits hard, we have to make the conscious decision to let God teach us how to turn lemons not just into lemonade, but lemon pie, lemon custard, lemon ice cream, even lemon chicken; in other- wards , it is pain and brokenness and even sometimes disappointments He chooses to use, that awaken buried dreams and goals, which allows ourselves to be stirred into new directions, tap into something within ourselves and our calling that we didn’t see prior to the storms we faced. Sometimes closed doors are actually sealed blessings;for example, The boyfriend that rejected you, who you thought was a dream of a life time, who turned out to be a fool! it leads to a set up of being placed in the right places, at strategic times where you connect with valued encounters that contribute to your future .Know that Jesus loves you immensely throughout this New Year and the coming ones.

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Something wonderful is on the horizon
Life doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
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Something wonderful is on the horizon
Turn Toward the Sun CoverLife doesn’t always look the way we want it to look. In Mandy’s upcoming book, Turn Toward the Sun: Releasing What If and Embracing What Is, you’ll find encouragement to live in the moment, sit with your experiences, and trust God with the unknown.
Preorder from Baker Book House for 40% off and free shipping!*
*US shipping only