While We're Still Here

I wouldn't call myself a hypocrite if you asked me, but something happened today to make me realize, I just might be a hypocrite. I bring you this episode, unplanned, based on events of the morning.  Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com Reach me at kathy@whilewerestillhere.com Facebook: While We're Still Here Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was...

When you get that melancholy feeling, grief you can't shake, or wrapped in fond memories, wishing you could express everything you're feeling in that moment? What if you could make a call, into the wind, your message of love and sadness being carried off to your loved one? Listen in to learn about windphone. https:/www.mywindphone.com Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewer...

When we are working on a project with many players or tasks, we "close the loop", or 'tie up loose ends". We don't want any part undone or people left uninformed. But if we were to die in the middle of a project, what then? If you're a crafter you likely are juggling many projects at once. What if you become ill or disabled and can't finish? What if you die? What...

Any minute, we could be dead. Someone we love could be gone. We do not know get to know the time of our death. Dr. Ira Byock wrote "The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book About Living". He found through his years as an emergency physician and Hospice physician that the dying often turn inwards, become softer, and retrace the footsteps of their lives and relationships. To affirm connect...

Want more Melissa? Isn't she a great thinker and conversationalist? I couldn't imagine keeping this piece of her from you all. What surprises her and brings her joy? It's the small things. Listen in as we wrap our conversation.  Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com Reach me at kathy@whilewerestillhere.com Facebook: While We're Still Here Starting...

Boy, oh boy, are you in for a double treat! Melissa is someone I met almost 8 years ago. She moved away for a few years and, independent of one another, we suffered loss and went through sadness. We also grew in our faith and wisdom through wrestling with God, practicing forgiveness, experiencing grief, and so much more. Melissa explains her peace through trials because of her faith. We talked so...

I read a social media post awhile back about Grief Groceries. It's not about the food, really, as much as it is about how to show up for those who are gripped with the pain and sorrow of grief. So, what does showing up look like? Take a listen.  https://www.socialworker.com/feature-articles/reviews-commentary/book-review-home-made-grief-groceries-showing-up/  Send a text Listen and read my bl...

When physicians diagnose an illness or disease, they use tests, examinations, and check blood markers, etc., to predict the outcome for a patient. Doctors can also predict when a person is likely to die. What??? How is that possible? Are they accurate? Take a listen. You may find yourself living a different tomorrow. Resources from this episode: VO2 max, or maximal oxygen consumption, refers to th...

I was considering this difference between happiness, which is temporal, and joy, which is  a state of mind that can be present even in dark times. How are they different? How would one be able to tell the difference?  Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com Reach me at kathy@whilewerestillhere.com Facebook: While We're Still Here Starting with Episode 56, the episo...

When we are with someone who is suffering from grief we often feel the need to fill every second we're together with words. But what about silence? That can be a balm, much more than talking. We can't "fix" their loss. We can't necessarily cheer up a grieving person. Each stage of our life and our experiences as well as individuality  determines how we process emotions. So...

Destinations can be great. Getting there can be great. When the destination is death, we can sometimes choose the journey. The way we process our emotions can lead to a more peaceful journey to our end of life. To leave nothing unsaid, to let those you love know how much you love them.  What is your most precious possession? Dr. Ira Byock has some insights regarding this and the journey to death a...

Whitney is a Grief Recovery Specialist who uses the Grief Recovery Method to help people move through grief for themselves as well as be better listeners to those sharing their grief. Whitney herself described wanting to ‘love better’ as a result of participating in the program, then went on to become a Specialist. Whitney mentioned the program can teach how to process emotions. We talk about how...

When you have lost someone you care about, it's natural to feel sad, lonely, long for their presence, etc. This is a normal part of grief. When your sadness affects your daily life, your work, or the way you interact with others, for a prolonged period, it may be time to check in with yourself to see if your grief has reached a point of needing to get some help or support. If you or someone y...

This episode is about loss and grief. I share some of my losses that I had not considered until venturing into 'what is grief'.  Some unexpected items came up for me. So now what? I have some work to do.  Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com Reach me at kathy@whilewerestillhere.com Facebook: While We're Still Here Starting with Episode 56, the episode...

Grief is described as deep sorrow. As a human, living on Planet Earth, I would say grief cannot be avoided.  Grief comes from loss. We all will suffer loss at some point in our life.  End of life planning is not intended to avoid grief; rather, making and discussing your end of life plan helps you to live your life more fully. This happens because conversation begins, the idea of forgiveness prese...

It's been said that animals communicate to us. You've likely had experiences of this communication yourself. When we talk about The Good Death, however, would we think of our pets?  As my husband and I made our way through an animal farm, he asked whether the farm actually could be a refuge. Then I wondered whether the animals were rescued from predators or poachers, which then led to th...

He's not nuts. He misses his daughter. Listen to how he feels connected to her.  Send a text Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com Reach me at kathy@whilewerestillhere.com Facebook: While We're Still Here Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the...

That elephant I mentioned a few weeks ago? Not only is it in the room: it is roaring! What is forgiveness? Does forgiveness mean that I have to trust the person who violated me? What is my role in forgiveness? What will it get me?  You may not want to relive pain in order to forgive. I get it. Forgiveness may be just the thing that sets you free. Free from bitterness, resentment, etc. It does not...

VSED, or voluntary stopping of eating and drinking, is legal in all 50 states. It is not considered suicide. Why do people choose this option, and how can this manner of dying be more comfortable and peaceful? Suzanne O'Brien, RN, has thoughts that I will share. Judith Schwarz, RN, Ph. D., also has shared her thoughts on VSED. I have my thoughts, too, and included them for you in this episode...

People wanting to die to end their suffering or 'to not be a burden' is not new to society. The options to hasten death, while controversial, are growing. States are hearing from groups and organizations as well as citizens who want the choice to end their life when they want to do so, not necessarily at their natural end of life. But, is this method actually 'natural'? The Fin...

Ruben and I have been friends for awhile. I knew his mother was ill and when she died I offered prayers of comfort for his loss. What I did not know was how his mother died. I was sorry I hadn't moved in closer to him at that time of his life. He talks about that time with me today, seeming to be in what I felt is a place of calm peace over the loss. That does not mean he is no longer grievin...

A big ol' elephant came into the room: I have avoided this issue because I didn't know how to address it, and I don't have all the answers for the dangerous or toxic relationships in our lives, or how or why we may want to pursue reconciliation. I can say I didn't pursue mending the dangerous relationships in my life. Listen how I got through some of the struggles around that....

In this episode we will hear from two physicians on each side of the Medical Aid in Dying option for those with terminal illness. Both have compelling arguments but agree that healthcare has changed, and determining when a person will die is not precise. The American Medical Association believes doctors should be 'life-savers', not 'life-takers'.   Take a listen or visit the fo...

C aution: The conversation about ending one's life continues. Please proceed carefully. Why do we want to learn about what other countries are legislating about medical aid in dying? Because their decisions may influence our policy makers and the individuals seeking this option to end their suffering. The notion that one can seek to end their life can seem really heavy--it IS really heavy, an...

Caution: We are diving deep into this topic of medical aid in dying. If you are considering suicide, not medical aid in dying to ease physical suffering, please call 988 to speak with someone. Listen to the excerpts from the American Public Health Association journal article entitled "Patients' Right to Self-Determination at the End of Life" in 2008. The Oregon Model was enacted fir...