My Loved One Has Been Diagnosed With a Life Limiting Condition…What Now?
While all of us will die, none of us want to think about someone precious in our world dying. Hearing that a loved one has been diagnosed with a life limiting condition or illness can literally knock the wind out of our sails. So the first thing to do is to stop and...
5 Reason Why Self Care Matters
We hear a lot these days that self care matters and that it’s important. Sometimes it feels like we say it as a throw away line, “Yes, I look after myself, I nurture me, I make time for me.”But do we really? And do we really know why it matters? Here’s 5...
When a Resident Dies…
One conversation that is often held in my world when speaking with care workers who work in aged care settings is around what happens after a resident dies.How organisations handle this can make a substantial difference to the emotional health of not just...
A to Z of Self Care and Feeling Good
Are you needing some ideas on how to nurture yourself and work on feeling better? Here’s a list that might help. Note, yes, some letters have more than one suggestion as they are too good to not include…A Alone time - regularly spend some time on your own...
The Importance of Strengthening Resilience
Resilience is the ability to bounce back, to triumph over adversity, stress, challenges. To rebound after having been stretched mentally, physically, emotionally and to recover your strength, spirit and good humour. It’s a given that we will all experience...
What Does “X Time Left” Really Mean…?
One of the most common questions or concerns in the end of life space is “How much time do I/they have left ?”Not everyone wants to know the answer.For others, it’s an imperative.I get the wanting to know. It gives an idea and can make planning a lot...
Are You Really Listening…?
In his best selling book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change, Stephen R Covey states, “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”One arena where this is...
How To Turn Washing Dishes Into A Mind-Blowing Experience…
First, does anyone hand wash dishes these days? Do you? We do have a dishwasher, but we only use if for glasses, crockery & cutlery. I’m not a fan of putting pots, saucepans etc in, so they are done by hand. When I was a kid, washing dishes was a...
I’m a Christmas Contradiction…
Christmas has no religious significance for me, but we used to celebrate it lots in times gone by - it was all about family. The last few years we have not really celebrated…it just hasn’t felt the same/right since quite a few of our loved ones died. We...
Dying & Death : Top 5 Facebook Tips
Facebook is one of those things that can be a double edged sword. It can enhance communication and connectedness to one another, but it can also damage these, too. Particularly in the dying and death spaces. Here’s my top tips for effectively using...
We Are Not The Only Sentient Beings…
One of the greatest gifts of this work serving the dying, is that because it is energetic in nature, animals are able to be assisted as well as their humans. I truly believe that animals are sentient beings, this is not exclusive to our human domain. I was...
Sometimes Grief Sucks, And Regret Makes It Worse…
Ahhhhhh, grief, you’re a funny bugger!! Most of the time you’re just there, sitting in the background & then all of a sudden, BAM, there’s the spotlight full on & the tears stream. I’ve gotten to the stage, where for the most part, grief doesn’t...
It’s That Time Of Year…
You have a loved one for whom you know this will probably be their last Christmas in our physical world. You fluctuate between wanting to make it extra special and dreading it at the same time. Everyone knows that it will probably be the last one, but it’s not...
It’s Not Called The ‘Silly Season’ For No Reason…
It’s frantic... Plans to be made, re-scheduled, cancelled, re-made Working out what presents to buy, how much to spend, wanting it to be something different 50 million Christmas functions/parties to attend Decorating your home so that it looks like...
Vulnerability…
Vulnerability/Courage - Two Sides of the Same Coin I was at the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network awards dinner a few weeks ago supporting a dear friend who was a finalist. There were multiple awards to be handed out. The first winner was announced...
End of Life Conversations…How to Get Started
Having conversations with your nearest and dearest about your end of life wishes is one of THE most important aspects of end of life care. Currently, most of those conversations happen in times of crisis, when the proverbial hits the fan and that is never going to...
The Good, The Bad, The Great and The Downright Ugly
Today’s post for National Palliative Care Week 2017 is all centred on the above...know that your end journey or sharing it with a loved one will cover all of these aspects and probably multiple times. Today marks four years since my Mum got to meet her first great...
What is Palliative Care?
Being National Palliative Care Week 2017, I thought we'd cover some of the basics that people may not know/understand. So, in my very best Julie Andrews singing voice (that is not even close to being as fabulous as hers...), "Let's start at the very beginning, a very...
People Who Care…Sometimes We’re The Problem…
Now, before you get all uppity and jumping up and down and getting mad with me, hear me out...Also, please know that I have absolutely been part of this as well. Tell me if any of these statements resonate with you: • You are a kind, compassionate person who loves...
My ….. Will Heal You!!
This was part of a conversation that was related to me recently by someone who is terminally ill. And it’s not the first time I have heard this raised as an issue, in fact it happens more than you might think. The scenario goes something like this... Person A has a...