When is a Blog not a Blog?

When it’s a newsletter!

Hi Everyone! This isn’t my usual blog post, but I’ve been reflecting that it has been about a year since I first started publishing on my website. Perhaps an update is in order!

I have had a very busy twelve months. A year ago, I had just accompanied one of my favourite clients in her death journey – she had passed away in February. And little did I know it, but I was about to see five or six more lovely souls depart between March and May of 2024. I remember having such a heavy heart. I think it is quite natural to become attached to people you see often – even if it is for a short time. I don’t think I would be good at this job if I did it without heart.

There is an ebb and flow to death. It seems to come in waves. Last Spring there was certainly a wave, and I find that there is generally a series of “departures” after the December holiday season, as if people wait for that to be over. One of my treasured clients, Sam, said a couple of years ago that I “make dying liveable”. It touched me so much that I put his phrase on the back of my business cards. I miss Sam!

One of the learning curves for me over the past year has been how to strike a balance between deathwork and self-care. I have been very fortunate in that I have an amazing cohort of clients that always understand when I have an urgent call, or when I need a day off to decompress. This has been key to my sense of balance and to help me regain strength when I feel I’ve lost my mojo. I also balance myself by walking my two dogs out in the woods as well as finding time for a bit of meditation or prayer every day. I am so blessed to have amazing children and a loving husband, good friends and wonderful clients. Life is good.

In September (because I wasn’t busy enough ha ha) I began studies for a Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Alberta University of the Arts. I will be majoring in Fibre Arts. I was surprised to learn that I am not even the oldest person there! There are 4-5 of us older women and we have formed a bit of a “gray hair posse”.

While the coursework is really intense, the energy of all the young people and the atmosphere of creativity and discovery is good for my soul. The Winter term ends next week, and so far I am a “straight A” student. I find this surprising because there are SO many talented people at AUArts. I am looking forward to my next term, which starts in September. It may take me a bit longer to get my degree, but I’ll plug away at it. I hope you enjoy some of the photos of my work throughout this blog post. Critique is welcome!

Over the last year I have done speaking engagements, counselled families with respect to dementia, life-limiting illness and aftercare (once a death has happened). I have helped several people through the MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) process. I have supported people in my community through sudden deaths and deaths when there is time to say good-bye.  I have spent time with grieving spouses and children and had many wonderful hours companioning people with dementia. As much as I love doing the work of a death doula, the companion work I do brings so much joy. Spending more time with people living with dementia has helped me to truly live in the moment and find joy in the smallest things – the crinkle of a chocolate wrapper, a pinecone on the ground, the taste of a good ice cream cone on a hot summer day and so much more.

The next twelve months I expect will be more of the same, and I couldn’t be happier. Due to demand, I have also posted a number of online events that you can register for on my website. There, you will find webinar events covering everything from what it is like to be a Death Doula, to my six-part series on dying and death. Please share far and wide – as anyone in Canada is able to participate.

Finally, when you get your monthly newsletter email, and you click on the link, you are helping to grow my online presence. Thank you so much for your support as I learn to navigate an online presence. It means the world to me.
Peace and blessings

Laura