FootprintsintheWind.com

Conversation asks these questions: 1. What information can we exchange? 2. What fellow feeling can we exchange? These are the simplest levels where we tend to stop. But there are more: 3. How can we respond? What more is possible now? What can we dream? 4. Who can we invent us to be together? 5. Who can we find and invent our very selves to be?

:- Doug.

Have you ever met anyone else whose work is elder conversations? These conversations run the range from how to live well within the budget and family we have, to how to live the last chapter of our lives. They often get profound. For instance, when it comes your turn to die, where would you want to be, and with whom?

:- Doug.

When we have very little to say, each word becomes both more important and less. More because we have to make each count. Less because the precise words are not important, only the heart of them.

:- Doug.

I call myself an Elder Caring Attorney to remind me to be caring.

:- Doug.

Footprints in the Wind^sm # 1242

Out of fear some people do not want to have the conversation about care of Mother or Father at end of life. What is the antidote to fear? Love. How can love step in? Firmly? Some other way? What would Mother do?

What if the reason is not fear but something else?

Can we connect with those who do not want to be connected? Can we write them, journal to them, do any good by writing to them then tearing it all up? Do they really want to turn their backs? Do we want to let them?

Please pass it on.

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There is room for us as professionals to be more than technicians. There is still a role for us to be compassionate. You can make a difference. You can be kind and caring. Perhaps that’s why you got into this calling.

:- Doug.