Love Your Life to Death–The 10th Anniversary. Looking Back over a Decade

Writing this book has profoundly impacted my life and changed the trajectory of my path and the choices I’ve made. I have become more than I ever thought possible and accomplished more than I ever dared to dream.

As a society, we really are capable of so much more than we know. From witnessing and experiencing excessive suffering as a nurse, to author, speaker, radio and television host and compassionate disrupter? I would have said “not a chance!” None of this was ever on my vision board. In fact, it terrified me. Then, surprisingly, this new career brought me more joy than I could have ever imagined.

My greatest honour and privilege has been to sit with those with a story to tell, heroes without capes–often silenced and feeling isolated in their grief, because those surrounding them did not understand their need to be heard. And why would they?

Where do we teach people how to sit with suffering, to listen without trying to fix and to acknowledge and allow ALL emotions? As a society, we are making progress but still have a long way to go. It is in sharing our stories that we begin to heal ourselves and each other.

I really had no idea how desperate people were to be heard. To talk about their loved ones who died, to unpack their painful experiences, to be validated, to sit in a safe space where they wouldn't be rushed or asked if they were “over it” yet.

I will continue to learn, unlearn and evolve and discover the magnitude of compassionate listening. We all have this ability. The most powerful gift we can give one another is to Just Show Up. This became the message for my TEDx Talk–Transforming our Grief, by Just Showing Up.