.png)
Legacy - Making this World a Better Place
June 2023
Not Taking Things for Granted
Unfortunately we all have a tendency to accentuate and discuss every event and interaction we engage in daily that seems to go wrong in our lives. Perhaps we are trained by the news media which accentuates the negative, because it seems more interesting and holds a viewer's attention more than a positive story. The news media focuses on deaths, disasters, disease and discomforting stories which can easily lead an individual to feeling a little depressed. After viewing thirty minutes of an Evening News broadcast, did you ever wonder if anything went right in the world during that day?
Source:https://ehappylife.com/life-lesson/never-take-anything-granted
Who doesn't complain about their relationships with their parents, spouses, kids or in-laws? It's always easier to find what's wrong with these relationships than what's great about them. Until someone dies, gets divorced or estranged with someone, they usually take their relationships for granted. This is quite unfortunate, because happiness in life should be derived from valuing and treasuring all we discussed above – every day while we have it all. Don't wait until you lose something, to place a high value on what you once had. It's impossible to go back in time and fix what you took for granted and lost. So appreciate, treasure and nurture all that you have been blessed with in life. Strive to make each day better than the last. And cut back on your daily news consumption. Then watch your attitude and life improve!
Source:https://ehappylife.com/life-lesson/never-take-anything-granted
FROM THE DESK OF
My mind is spinning with how busy our month of June will be! In thinking about my “From the Desk of”, and how to weave together all the exciting news I wanted to share with you, there was one word that came up over and over again. I believe it can adequately be used to describe all that we have to share with you this month.
WELCOME!
According to Webster Dictionary: welcome: (noun) a kindly greeting or reception, as to one whose arrival gives pleasure
For Home Hospice Association, welcome is a great word to use, as it relates to how we, within our charitable activities, draw the circle of care wider to ease the suffering of those facing death, and those who love them.
As most of you know, one of our consistent mantras is: “Just as it takes a village to raise a child, that village is equally important (some may argue more so) at the end of our life as it is at the beginning of our life”. With the work we do daily, we are growing our village and drawing that circle of care wider. And in that spirit, I would like to say...
Welcome to our new Chapter Champions Laura Silver (Alberta), and Nicole Myers (southwestern Ontario). How amazing to see our circle of care drawing wider geographically as we seek to serve all those facing death and their loved ones right across Canada.
Welcome to Stephanie Byfield and the municipality of Port Hope. Together, we are building a pilot project that will support and care for members of the senior community. Building on our research in creating our Volunteer Boomers Plus Program, this pilot project is going to offer ways to stay vibrant physically and mentally as one ages, using initiatives such as Team GrandPaws for The Bello Project, a retiree mentorship program for our interns, as well as direct supportive care such as the Our Babies, Our Grief for Seniors progressive healing group.
June 2, 2014, was the last day my dog Bello spent on this earth. His earthly ending was the beginning of Home Hospice Association. It would be impossible to not acknowledge him in my greeting this month. When Bello was alive, I felt that I had a “6-hour long bungee cord” attached to me. It would have been impossible for me to spend hours in the community and on the road with our chapters if he were alive today. While his death was one of the most devastating times of my life, it was the freedom I needed to follow this dream and to be able to do this work. Therefore, in closing, I would like to say thank you to my best four-legged friend; for most of our time together it was “just the two of us”. He was my protector, my friend, and my family. There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about him, and thanks to Glen and Jeanne (agreeing that we could call The Bello Project … The Bello Project), I get to say his name every day.
Thanks to our grief support people and grief educators, I have learned cognitively and understand emotionally how important being able to say the name of our loved one after their death is during a healthy grief journey. I hope you have many opportunities this month to say the name of a loved one, or support someone close to you by finding opportunities to say the name of their loved one.
Project Review – Highlights
We have a great new team working on updating and “modernizing” our Compassionate Caregiving online training. The work being done by this team includes the customization of our training for the Métis Nation of Ontario, who will be using our training program across their communities.
Ottawa Leadership Team member and (spoiler alert) July’s Changemaker, Carole Brule has headed up the development of the Our Babies, Our Grief for Seniors progressive healing group. We are ready to launch two programs for those who experienced infant or pregnancy loss decades ago; a 7-week progressive healing group, and a one-day progressive healing event.
Our Lead Death Doula Team: Rosanna Bak, Mar Marrow, Sandi D, Nicole Myers, and Laura Silver, who are helping their community of Death & Infant & Pregnancy Loss Doulas and Doula Candidates gain practical experience in the professional care our Doulas provide. Over the course of this month, and thanks to the pioneering work of Mar and her team in Ottawa, we are growing the Professional Development Certificate Programs to include in-person learning.
Death Café Facilitator Training workshop
The Death Café facilitator training was great. Before the workshop we were sent a handbook to look through. This handbook will be a great guide - it gives us tips on setting up for your café, what to do leading up to it, like how to advertise, who to contact etc. It gives us sample questions you can ask during your café to 'get the ball rolling' so to speak and break the ice for conversations. It also gives tips on how to handle participants that may be occupying the floor and not giving others a chance. We are also provided with advertising materials.
The actual workshop gave us an opportunity to ask any questions we may have after reading the handbook. We did a short Death Café to get a feel for it for anyone who had never attended one.
Once again, I feel it was great experience and I will have ongoing support as I start down the road of facilitating Death Cafés in my area.
I am really looking forward to this opportunity to help folks in my community be more comfortable talking about death. The Death Cafés offer folks a non-judgmental opportunity to chat about some of their experiences with death and dying, how it influenced them, and some fears or comfort they may feel from the experiences. Also, it gives an opportunity to help people look ahead to their own death and what they may want to think about. Listening to others' ideas, thoughts and experiences can lead to thought provoking ideas with yourself.
Since the workshop I have contacted our local library and the enthusiasm and acknowledged need for this in my area was overwhelming. I would suggest to anyone reading this that Death Cafés are a great way to connect with people in our communities.
Marlene Morrow
Moonlit Memory Walk
We are excited to announce our upcoming Moonlit Memory Walk fundraising event. The participation of our dedicated volunteers and compassionate doulas in this event is vital in making it a resounding success. The Moonlit Memory Walk not only serves to honour the memory of our loved ones, but also plays a crucial role in raising funds to support our mission of providing exceptional end-of-life care.
Taking place on the evening of October 28, 2023, at multiple walk locations, this event promises to be a beautiful and memorable experience for everyone involved. By joining us for the Moonlit Memory Walk, you will have the opportunity to engage with our supportive community, connect with fellow team members, and demonstrate your commitment to our cause.
Your presence and participation are invaluable, as they help create awareness, raise funds, and ensure the continued provision of compassionate care to those in need. By rallying together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of our clients and their families, providing them with comfort, solace, and dignity during their most challenging time.
We encourage you to gather your friends, family and loved ones to form a team and register for the event as soon as possible. Fundraising is essential to The Moonlit Memory Walk, so remember to reach out to your networks, sharing your personal stories and the importance of our cause.
Let's illuminate this event’s special night with love, remembrance, and support. With your participation, The Moonlit Memory Walk will be a remarkable testament to our collective dedication to our mission. Thank you for being an integral part of our team and for your continued commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
Meet our Changemaker : Dianne Lakusra
My favorite quote :
“I’ve learned that
People will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did, but
People will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
In the words of Amanda Dymond (pathway coordinator) : She has been an excellent addition to the Death Cafe team, helping daily to ensure our clients are registered to the support they need.
Did You Know
Historically, Pride gatherings emerged from the first large-scale protests for 2SLGBTQI+ rights. In Canada, the first demonstrations took place in Ottawa and Vancouver in 1971. By 1973, Pride events were held in several Canadian cities, including Montréal, Ottawa, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver and Winnipeg. Toronto's Pride weekend in June is now among the largest Pride events in North America
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Help produce HHA’s 2022-2023 Annual Report
The Annual Report is a comprehensive overview of HHA’s accomplishments and activities over the past year and provides financial and operational information to members and stakeholders.
This volunteer position would involve an approximate 6-month commitment beginning in August 2023.
Key responsibilities:
-
help gather relevant data for the report, such as:
-
financial statements, reports, donors list, objectives, activities, graphics
-
design and format the report (PowerPoint), and submit for review/approval
-
develop the Annual Report summary webpage for the HHA website and submit for review/approval
-
make changes as required to finalize the report and webpage
If you are interested in this position, or would like additional information, please email: pamela@homehospiceassociation.com
Help with the planning for HHA’s 2022-2023 Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting is held each year between November and February, as per Canada Revenue Agency requirements for a Registered Charity, and HHA’s bylaws. Key components of the AGM include election of directors, governance matters, and the presentation of year end reports.
This volunteer position would involve an approximate 6-month commitment beginning in August 2023.
Key responsibilities:
-
assist with event planning, including logistics such as locating a venue, arranging refreshments, and ensuring the attendance of presenters at the event
-
develop and distribute notices of the AGM to HHA members and other parties such as sponsors
-
assist as needed with development and distribution of the agenda for the AGM
If you are interested in this position, or would like additional information please email: pamela@homehospiceassociation.com
I Rose Up to Challenges and Roared Like a Lioness
Life as a caregiver was constantly changing with many challenges along the way; many adjustments were made in my life. I had to face and cope with many things that were not normal to me, and there were many new things to learn. Life was stressful. We all know we will die at some time but receiving a diagnosis of a disease, and the realities of surviving it, adds a whole different dimension of stress.
M.A.i.D. and the Death Doula Weekend Workshop
Jun 24, 9:00 a.m. EDT – Jun 25, 5:00 p.m. EDT
Via Google Meet
Book review - My Grief Journey: Colouring Book and Journal for Kids
For those who are learning how to live after the death of someone dearly loved and deeply missed. This book is a simplified version of My Grief Journey: colouring Book and Journal for Grieving Parents, using twenty-nine of the forty-two words (and adding one word not in the adult book). It is not just a colouring book. It is a guided journey through grief. As a child works through the pages, we pray her or she will find a measure of hope and healing.
