I was chatting with some colleagues the other day about my passion for shopping at our amazing farmers’ markets and how important it is that we do so. It seems clear to me that if I want to have great organic produce available to me and my family over the long haul I must support the local growers who work hard to make sure I can buy fresh organic food in my home town of Male … [Read more...]
Our Suppression of Grief and Why We Do It
I have been around grief and loss informally since I was nine and my Grandpa Joe died, formally since 1996 when I became a hospice volunteer. I have spent the past seven years of my life devoted to dying, death, grief, and loss. I have notices something and it came to light very clearly during a teaching session I was leading at Rhodes Wellness College the other day. I was … [Read more...]
The Impact of Care Giving Within the Care System
I was chatting with a student of mine today and listening to her sharing. I understood on a deeper level how spiritually and emotionally impactful giving care can be, especially within a care system. Here are two things she shared that reminded me how important it is to take care of our care providers: 1) A client/patient/resident of hers died several days ago and she was … [Read more...]
It Takes A Community to Grieve
I have often thought and almost as often spoken that it takes a community to grieve, it takes a community to die well, it takes a community to heal from loss. On an intellectual level I knew it was the case and I have seen evidence of it when working with the dying. I was in Campbell River this past week doing some training in a long term care home coupled with a weekend … [Read more...]
10,000 Hours to Master a Skill Set – Better Start your End of Life Training Now!
Malcolm Gladwell spoke of this concept in his bold book The Tipping Point and as I review my life I notice the truth in it. Any new skill set I have mastered has required my persistence, patience and regular practice. In our fast food, quick fix culture 10,000 hours seems like a lifetime, and many of us want speedy results. Hmmm… not possible when it comes to personal growth … [Read more...]