- Kitty Edwards
Finding Solace
As April showers bring May flowers so too does a terminal diagnosis bring surprising gifts.
When time is limited we have the urge to reconnect with long lost friends. Seeking forgiveness or asking for forgiveness becomes a necessity, not a luxury. We choose to go on a bucket list adventure. I find my clients who know they are dying are frank in their speech and honest in their assessment of the situation.
Confronting death brings us to attention. It is a time to be fully alive.
Today, when I was walking my dog Jude, I passed two blooming plum trees. I was filled with the fragrance of spring and the memories of the plum tree blooming in my grandmother’s yard in Birmingham, Alabama. The odor invoked joy in me.
I know my senses are recording sensations every moment. But I forget to stop and relish the experiences of my senses that make my heart sing – the early sounds of robins chirping in the Spring, the smell of coffee brewing in the morning, the snuggle of Jude settling into my lap.
Living consciously is a sensual endeavor.
We touch. We taste. We smell. When one is dying, these sensual pleasures are very important. To create a beautiful death, it is helpful to fill the environment with the experiences that create joy. In this way we, “make space for life to play itself all the way out – crescendo through to the end.” (BJ Miller, TED Talk, March 2015)
To create a personal and powerful Advance Health Care Directive it is imperative to include the elements you want in your Solace Care. Solace care is a source of consolation. It provides relief from grief and anxiety.
Solace care helps the human spirit dance to the threshold of death.
If you have articulated your choices and shared them with your family, they will be more empowered to fulfill your wishes. Last month I focused on medical instructions for my Advance Health Care Directives. This month I have developed a set of questions to help me speak clearly about my solace care choices. I share them with you in Conscious Transitions – Spring 2019 Workbook (Part IV).
Come dance with me this Spring,
Kitty Edwards, Executive Director Boulder, Colorado
Part IV of Conscious Transitions Workbook – Spring 2019 will help you note your solace care choices in your Advance Health Care Directive. This workbook has worksheets, thought-provoking questions and several wonderful resources for you to investigate.
