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“A Kids Book About COVID-19”
Portland publishing company releases free e-book for childrenA Kids Book About COVID-19 is a free e-book to help adults talk to children about the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). As we all process the global pandemic in real time, parents may find themselves struggling to provide comfort and answer their children’s questions. Tech entrepreneur and father of six Jelani Memory was one such…
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Our Monthly Tip: Plan a Celebration of Life in an Unusual Location
Share memories and stories in a unique location that is connected to the person who has diedOur Tip of the Month Holding a celebration of life in an unusual location other than somewhere such as a cemetery, backyard, church, restaurant or community hall can offer a new avenue for personalized memorial services. The key is that the location truly reflects the life, interests and passions of the person who has died.…
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Mental Health And Collective Trauma During The COVID-19 Pandemic
Safefuarding your mental health in the midst of a crisisIt will take some time for us to see the extent of the mental health repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic on the general public. In less than three months, the spread of COVID-19 has created a global, political and public health crisis. The rug has been pulled out from under us all, and we are…
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“Dog’s Death”
Updike’s poem recounts the tragic loss of a beloved family petJohn Updike’s “Dog’s Death” is a heartbreaking poem in which the narrator describes the final days of his dog’s life. It’s a poem about death, loss, showing dignity in the face of death, and the battle between nature and nurture. The narrator of the poem and his family rescue a dog, who ends up dying…
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“God Knows Where I Am”
A documentary film exploring a tragic case of mental illness, homelessness, and death by starvation in a rural American town“God Knows Where I Am,” a documentary produced and directed by Jedd and Todd Wider, is the tragic and sometimes shocking story of Linda Bishop, a vibrant, well-educated, middle-class single mom whose life was derailed by mental illness. Set mainly in the empty, ramshackle farmhouse where Bishop survived on apples and water through the freezing…
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“In the Backseat”
Regine Chassagne sings about finding strength and independence after losing a parentCanadian band Arcade Fire rose to prominence in 2004 with their debut album, “Funeral,” which drew critical acclaim and established the group as a driving force in indie rock. The band’s success, however, was tinged with tragedy: Leading up to the recording of “Funeral,” Arcade Fire collectively lost three family members — a devastation which…
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Arianne Clément Explores Senior Sexuality in “The Art of Aging”
Photographer undermines taboos around sensuality with black-and-white portraitsIn her stunning black-and-white images of senior sexuality, Canadian photographer Arianne Clément has captured moments of intimacy where we, as a society, tend to least expect them: among the elderly. The photographs feature subjects age 70 or older kissing, holding hands, and in various stages of undress. “The Art of Aging” — sensual, touching, and…
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Veteran-to-Veteran Volunteer Programs Provide Companionship to Hospice Patients
Shared military experience can help create a bond between volunteers and patients in palliative careEven with excellent care, hospice patients often struggle with fear and uncertainty when approaching the end of life. For veteran hospice patients, this fear can be exacerbated by the trauma of war. It can be difficult to envision a peaceful and natural death while carrying memories of violence. For this reason, volunteers with military backgrounds…
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Is Today a Good Day to Die? (Interview)
End-of-life counselor William Spear addresses living well in order to die peacefullyWilliam Spear wears many hats. A self-described “lifelong student,” he’s studied death and dying with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Buddhism with Tibetan Lama Sogyal Rinpoche and macrobiotic health with Japanese practitioner Michio Kushi. After recovering from an illness in the 1970s by changing his diet — based on advice from friends in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he was…
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