WHAT’S ON THE TABLE?

 Last weekend was the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday. We are slowly edging our way back into extended family meals and I offered to cook.

So cook I did!

Fresh roasted turkey with stuffing, potatoes, beans, roasted squash and Brussels sprouts, corn and a rich gravy to top it all off. My parents brought a beautiful ham and pumpkin pie plus I had an apple pie. 

It was a lovely meal and the table was full of good things.

The day before, Sheldon and I took a drive to Westport and stopped at a Winery for lunch. 

I had a glass of wine and salad - that’s it.

It too was a lovely meal.

If you are blessed, you have a lot on your table: a home, health, family,  food. You have a job, money in the bank, friends, a good faithful dog.

But I’m sure you’ve noticed, on occasion, things get removed from the table. You may lose your job, your marriage, that good faithful dog. 

Sometimes we choose to take something off the table, but it is much harder when we don’t have a choice! 

For people with a life limiting illness, the buffet options can slowly and painfully become smaller. They may lose their physical health, then their job and financial security, their independence. The same as we age we may notice the table getting sparse. 

It’s a good exercise to think about what’s important to you. Look at what’s on your table right now. What if something had to be taken off - which would you choose. What does your life look like without the full turkey dinner with all the trimmings. 

When we become ill, our goals can become very basic and focused. A walk around the block, a visit with the children, or maybe just getting to the bathroom and back. A salad and a glass of wine. 

Life is full of surprises. Sometimes you have a banquet, sometimes you are down to toast and tea. Reflecting on what’s important to you will help you make decisions and feel more in control.