I rarely share such personal stories here on my blog, but this spiritual tome bears telling as Christmas, with all the miracles of the season, approaches.
Meet Carlee. This little gem, the runt of the litter, came into my life as the lesson of letting go was unfolding around me. While facilitating a workshop in New Carlisle, Gaspe, I faced a difficult personal situation occupying my thoughts. After completing the workshop, a particularly unpleasant email threatened to shatter the enjoyment of a day to tour the coast and see Perce Rock with my colleague. So, I asked the Universe to get me through the challenge of my emotions and let me enjoy exploring this coastal region. One hour later, I encountered a litter of four furry kittens along a dirt road leading up to Black Lake. It seemed they were hitching a ride, having been abandoned, as I later learned commonly happens with the local population of unwanted cats. My colleague and I stopped the rental car and the sparse traffic, not knowing what to do. It was clear to me: I could not, after asking the Universe for a miracle, bypass these animals whose situation made them far more vulnerable and helpless, an irony given my vulnerability in the face of that email communication.
Herding cats is no easy feat; we finally settled each one into the car trunk, and the adventure of finding them forever homes began! I had only one day to place these treasures or locate a refuge to care for them until good homes could be found. Harboured in the bathroom of my hotel, along with litter, food and water, they ate voraciously and slept in the bathtub. At the same time, I worked the phones in a networking frenzy with one little black male placed with a family and the three remaining kittens going to a beautiful refuge called Amis-Zoo, run by Andree. Andree and her partner, Michel, came to my hotel room the night before I was to leave by plane the following day. She would take two kittens, as I had told her I would take one home with me. Unfortunately, the small private airline’s administration told me about their policy of not allowing animals on the plane. I couldn’t take the chance of not being allowed on board if I tried to smuggle this little angel in my sweater.
I had to let it all go…let my situation and the things I cannot change go, let these beautiful good-natured kittens go, and I had to let go, the little one I wanted to keep, again telling the Universe my wish to have her if a way could be found.
Andree entered my hotel room and got down on the floor with the kittens, now running loose and getting ready for their transfer. I told Andree it would be three rather than two as I could not take Carlee on the plane to Montreal. Then she looked at me and said: “I’m coming to Montreal in early December. I’ll bring her to you.” Wow! I let go, and the Universe provided!
Carlee is now home, adapting to my existing two cats, who’ve accepted her into the fray. She is independent, gentle, affectionate and fearless–an interesting mix of characteristics that resonate with me. Carlee is precisely where she needs to be. So am I. And all this just because of my willingness to LET GO!
What is your story about letting go?