Thanksgiving
Holidays are such a mixed bag for so many. For some, gathering with family is a balm. For others, well . . . it’s more complicated. I have a friend whose favorite holiday of all is this one, and yet, family is harder some years than others.
Wherever your are today, emotionally or physically, my wish for you is that you allow yourself to feel what you feel without comparison. Some people will share their great joy today and others, maybe more quietly, might share their sadness. Both are okay. A lovely woman whose blog I’ve been reading since 2010, wishes her circumstances were a little different this year. But she remains genuinely happy for those in a better place. She wrote this yesterday and it’s stuck with me:
I know some people like to offer comfort by saying something like, “Oh, all those happy families you see? They’re probably not as happy as they look.”
But I think that’s a cheap way of soothing my raw heart; I don’t want to disparage someone else’s genuine happiness to concoct a salve for my own sadness.
For me, it goes back to another post I wrote about letting people have their joy. I would add that we can also let people have their sadness or whatever else they’re feeling. We are complex beings. The ability to experience a whole range of emotions is itself a gift.
So on this Thanksgiving, know I am thankful for each of you. I am holding space for those who are struggling this year in whatever way that is. And, I am so truly happy for those who are celebrating and joyful. May your day be safe. May something happen today that sparks a bit of peace and gratitude.
xo,
Beth
Update: Last night my daughter and I ended up in the emergency department because of the scary health thing I mentioned earlier this week. It was a long night of tests and imaging that ended with the best news. It turns out the scary thing is not a thing. There are still issues, yes, but they are the issues we’re familiar with and are working on. The big scary diagnosis was a misdiagnosis and God knows, we are thankful for that.
I am also SO THANKFUL for the friends who carried us through yesterday and last night. Our people really are the greatest gift in this life. 💕
Grateful. ❤️