Letting Go ...

Originally published October 13, 2019

Happy Thanksgiving ... a lesson in letting go ...

In Canada, this is Thanksgiving Weekend.

Thanksgiving for us has always been about the gathering of family; the smell of turkey in the oven. The joy and laughter as we gather round the table to break bread, feast, and simply enjoy the company of each other. Always too much food, too much clean-up ... but never too much love. In my 57 years, this has been Thanksgiving ... as it should be.

This year Thanksgiving looks quite different. We spent our day at Jim Pattison Outpatient Centre, getting bone scans for Paul's pre-transplant medical workup. Thanksgiving Sunday? Seriously? ... well ... yes. And we are actually so grateful to have this scan happening so quickly! But ...

There was no Thanksgiving dinner prep this morning, no juicy aroma as the turkey was in the oven. No potatoes mashed, or pumpkin pie made. No large gathering of family round the dining room table.

Instead, our Thanksgiving was bone scans, having a visit with my mom, along with my daughter, Kaela; and then simply enjoying a turkey dinner at White Spot, the four of us. Yep. White Spot. In 57 years, I never imagined this would be Thanksgiving, and I'm certain my mom never would have either. Yet this year, she is quite okay with all of it.

We enjoyed our turkey dinner and each other's company. Our crowd was much smaller, and it wasn't our own dining table we gathered round. But we gathered just the same, and shared in the joy and laughter that comes with simply being together.

This Thanksgiving we've learned the lesson of letting go. Letting go of what we believe should be, must be, and opening our eyes to accepting what is, and what can be.

Oh, I still missed not having everyone together, and I even missed the cooking (though certainly not the clean up). Yet, had we hung on to the idea of what Thanksgiving should be, we would not have been able to enjoy what our Thanksgiving actually was. We would have completely missed out.

Letting go of what was, has allowed us to embrace the way things were today. I have no idea what Thanksgiving may look like next year. In fact, life could have significantly changed by then. So much so, that I choose not to think about it; not to look that far ahead right now.

For today, I am so thankful. Thankful for our healthcare system, and the flexibility it affords us right now. Thankful for Paul and our ability to learn how to let go together, and embrace the new ways things are showing up for us. Thankful for family, friends, and all of you along the way. Those who are able to bob and weave, ebb and flow in rhythm with us; even when it means asking you to let go of how things were ... so we can all embrace how things are right now - together.

Thank you for taking the time to check in, help out, and some days, simply acknowledge that sometimes this is hard. Thank you for your patience.

Thankful always, for your prayers, good thoughts, and understanding.

Thankful for the possibility of tomorrow.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for White Spot, and my ability to still feel heart-full while also letting go.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! May your hearts be full!

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About the author:

Karen Hendrickson is an Elevation Coach, focused on helping others to rewrite their life story, befriend their mortality, and find the richness and magic that lives at the intersection of our lives where life and death meet. When we allow our authentic self permission to shine our life becomes full of MAGIC and GREATNESS. Contact karenttjourney@gmail.com and start working with her today!