Today is a dreary, cloudy day so common in Iowa. It reminds me that many people feel this dreariness on a regular basis regardless of the weather. Grief can grind us to a halt, confuse our thoughts, distract us from our daily routine because it's so linked to the one we loved. That link remains after death. It's our longing to connect, for a moment, a blink, just to know that they're doing okay. How difficult it is to love someone who is mortal, and we are all mortal. I remember seeing a slide from a talk that read: 100% of us will die. It's powerful to see that. It made me realize how much denial we use to deflect that truth. Not me. Not today. No need to spend any time on that topic! And then someone we love dies and we are dashed, enraged, an emotional wreck. If only we would've said more, talked more about death. What did they believe? Are they still "out there?" My husband is...
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Hello! It's time for me to start my own blog about death and dying . I've been dealing with death as a professional for my entire career, which is well over 30 years now! Ever since I was in high school and first read Raymond Moody's book, Life After Life, I've been hooked. I worked as a hospice volunteer as soon as I was able. Then, I became a hospital chaplain which requires a lot of training. There are still clergy out there who think they can simply walk in and serve. Nope. Not a pastor. A chaplain. No proselytizing. No specific belief. You are not there to convert others. Period. You are there to help them find meaning in their experience! Take some CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) and find out! Anyways, I loved being a chaplain. In 2005, I became the first chaplain for the Palliative Care Team at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. My total focus was on those facing...