FootprintsintheWind.com

Footprints in the Wind^sm # 1473

Let me say to you, sir or ma’am
this thing that you don’t like
the beeps and bustle all about
the groans all within
knowing not what we mean
when on and on we say “do everything”
the way the doctors treat on and on
and never let us rest
this thing I see you do not like
is no one’s doing but your very own
the culture you with us have cultivated
all around is torture, torture
and no where near a gentle hand
nor ear to hear our life complete
it’s doing is ours—yours and mine
and yours again—
and so too its possible undoing—shall we?
nor ear to hear our life complete
our life complete—

Please pass it on.

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You are influential people. You are people. Therefore you are influential. I authorize you to use your influence.

:- Doug.

Death happens
Get ready

:- Doug.

I have come to some framework for thinking about the end of life conversation: 1. we don’t know when death is approaching; 2. we never anymore reach the point of nothing more we can do; 3. having the conversation reduces suffering (for individual and family), costs, and increases life, gentleness, and healing in dying.

:- Doug.

We are so unconscious about the words we use, we mostly don’t know what we’ve said, nor how the words have chosen the path of our thinking.

:- Doug.

I cannot offer you an inoculation against death. But I do offer you an inoculation against the avoidable suffering of death.

:- Doug.