"Here’s to the ones that we got, cheers to the wish you were here, but you’re not." ~ Memories by Maroon 5
As the thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, I'm left sitting in the quiet with a heart that's full, but still a little heavy. This year felt different for some reason - more tender, more bittersweet, somehow a little extra special. It was a holiday bursting with love, laughter, and the kind of chaos that only happens when you're surrounded by all your favorite people. Between clinking glasses and sharing stories of holidays past, I couldn't help but feel the empty chairs, the quiet voids, the echoes of holidays past when those who are no longer with us filled the room with love and laughter.
This Thanksgiving, I was reminded more than ever that these days - these messy, joyful, love-filled moments are the ones we will hold on to deeply when the chairs around the table change, once again. While I feel incredibly grateful to have been surrounded by so much love and warmth this year, my heart was also elsewhere.
It was with the families of two of my fellow Rotarians who are no longer here to celebrate. It was with my dear friend keeping vigil in the hospital with her mom. It was with my girlfriend grieving the loss of her beloved grandfather. It was with our sweet colleague navigating the uncharted waters of a first holiday without her beautiful daughter. My heart aches for every family that felt the sting of someone missing at their table, whether for the first time or the 20th.
And yet, it was also with the loved ones who couldn't join us this Thanksgiving, for one reason or another - the ones we missed dearly but know we will get to hug and laugh with come Christmas. I am holding on to the thought of those joyful reunions just around the corner, making the anticipation of what's to come that much sweeter.
These are the days! These fleeting moments are the ones that will someday make up the stories we tell, the songs we hum when we are missing the people we love most. It is so easy to take them for granted, to let the busyness overshadow the beauty. But here's the truth: none of us knows when this could be someone's last holiday around our table.
We must cherish it all, every second! The hugs, the laughter, the silly little arguments over who is doing the dishes. Hold your people a little tighter and make a little extra room for those who can't be here, whether they are watching over us from above or simply couldn't make it to the celebration.
To those feeling the weight of an empty chair this season, my heart is with you!
To those who are blessed with full tables and full hearts, soak it ALL in! And to the loved ones we miss more than words can express, cheers to you - you may not be here to celebrate with us, but you are always, ALWAYS in our hearts!
