When death and dying are hidden away from us, as it has been over the years, it tends to create fears that may not necessarily be required.
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To live an authentic life means to be you.
It is also to accept that there is an end. For all of us. Every single damn one of us.
As scary and terrifying as it might be, it also offers me some peace inside. To live this second half of life with wide open eyes and an even larger desire for love.
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Accepting that I am in the Fall of life means something more now than ever before.
It means that I take longer to consider my choices of friends, of the work I engage in, of what and where I invest my time.
And as we age, there are more divorces and celebrations of life of those who've died, than there are births and marriages.
Such is the journey we are all on.
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Contemplating what life means at this stage, and what kind of impact I would like to have, to serve and be of service to those who may want someone to walk with them - even for a short time - this is the kind of life that fills my soul with gratitude and a sense of peace.
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Strangely, I'm also nostalgic for the good ol' days. I listen to music that brings me to a kind of giggly jig in the kitchen, or I smile and nod at the old 70's and 80's images that pop up on my socials feeds. The stories that I reminisce about feel like they happened yesterday, when in reality it's been over 40 years now. Wow. That is sthocking.
And as you might have noticed - I'm of the age where we typed TWO spaces at the end of a period. Can't change now!!
So what's the point of this rambling about Death and Grief, and Love and Life.
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For me, it's become an almost daily topic of conversation. Someone or something brings forth the air of grief, death or loss - even when it's not a person or pet... secondary losses like a job, a divorce, a robbery or lost family heirloom. These things bring up feelings that are important and necessary to acknowledge and hold space for.
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And on that note, here is something that might inspire you.
Stephen Jenkinson is the kind of human that inspires me, and every time I hear him speak I am hypnotized by this poetic meandering that touches my heart in ways unexpected. I don't always know the words meanings, but I can feel the tone. I once had the opportunity to interview him for a podcast/radio show that I produced - and even back then (almost 10 years ago now) he was kind, humble and direct. It was something I'll always remember.
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So this is a gift for you.
This is an old documentary featuring Stephen, it's called Griefwalker. It's beautifully done.
I promise you will walk away with something for yourself, a little nudge for your soul to consider and contemplate.
Fair warning: you might want to have some kleenex nearby.
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The second video is a more recent interview that moved me as well. It's an interview with him, which speaks of his journey in the death trade, and his very first hospice patient/client....and between these two moments in time (the Griefwalker movie and this interview) it shows how he taken what he has experienced and stepped, albeit reluctantly at times, into Elderhood, with a deep respect for this one life we have been born into.
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