Do you ever find yourself surprised by surprise? Recently, while reading Belonging by Toko-pa Turner, I had an out-loud “huh” moment that caused me to shut the book for a long pause. In a passage about journeying through exile, Turner writes, “The initiated adult has learned to withstand uncertainty, has paid a debt to the… Continue reading The Eventual Ancestor
Recently, my daughter and I were watching Grey's Anatomy. The character Mark Sloan (played by Eric Dane) slipped into a coma following an end-of-life "rally," or final burst of energy. The cast of clinicians then discussed Sloan's advance directives. He had requested to end life-prolonging interventions if there were no signs of recovery after 30 days.A… Continue reading Side Doors to Tough Talks: How to Approach Planning Conversations about the End of Life
Death illiteracy is a significant social and public health challenge. Our difficulty in accepting our mortality, combined with a reluctance to plan for life’s eventual end, can lead to unnecessary suffering and isolation. However, by improving our individual and collective understanding of death, we can take meaningful steps to foster a greater sense of connection… Continue reading Community Death Literacy
An essential part of a doula practice is introspection. When I am granted access to the most profound moments in another person's life, I can't help but be moved. And changed. Sometimes I'm even rattled. Almost always, I am awed. If this weren't to happen, it'd be an indication that I had closed off my… Continue reading Life Goes On
Ultimately, life is an endless series of mostly dull moments strung between sporadic, pivotal events. And most of us enjoy a humble existence. Your purpose for living doesn’t need to be complex or elaborate. Fame and fortune do not equal meaning. Some of us know what we are meant to be or do during our… Continue reading Your Why
Francesca Lynn Arnoldy 