May it find you alive….

“When Death comes to find you, may it find you alive.” This African proverb (quoted on the Contacts page) says so much about why I decided to become a certified coach/educator of conscious aging/conscious dying. And it was inspired by my late partner in life and love (“Mitch”), who exemplified living life to the fullest even while accepting death as it approached. A former minister, public speaker and graphic artist, he was beloved by many for his wit and wisdom. And for me, he was the kindest, funniest, most loving partner I could have hoped for. We were on a spiritual journey of learning, sharing and growing together, when Parkinson’s Disease entered our path. While the challenges were great, we faced them together and stayed “alive” throughout the process. When the time came that the progression brought his earthly life to its conclusion, he accepted it with grace and continued to give love and laughs to everyone he cared about right up to his last days. He showed me that it is possible to approach death consciously, alive in spirit and heart as he began this next important journey of his soul. He believed, as do I, that death is an “event” equivalent to birth, but that life goes on…and so does love.