CHECK OUT: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Dear Friends,

I have a book I would like to recommend. It is one that I read a lifetime ago. It is called The Five People You Meet In Heaven by Mitch Albom. A friend of mine recommended it to me and I have kept it and re-read it from time to time when I need reminding of the connections that exist between us all (whether we see them or not). Being a military spouse, we have been the kind of family that moved and I would suggest more than most. Moving offered great opportunities but it had challenges as well in terms of staying connected to friends and family. I was always worried that I just didn’t have the time to do whatever it was I thought I had to do, before we had to move again. Moreover, I wasn’t making enough of a positive impact to be remembered as the generous Canadian ideal we all believe in (or at least what I believe in).

It’s always good to have context as to why we do what we do or in this case why I chose the book I did. Sorry for taking you down a rabbit hole. Back to the actual assignment.

I chose this book because even the best of us feel lost. Death, berevement and grief often lead us to feelings that no one ever truly is prepared for. For the most part, there is a large part of us that always believes we have those feelings in check. There is this part of us that always looks for meaning in diagnosis, dying and death (even if we don’t admit it). We have a tendency to reevaluate goals, ambitions and love and connections. Have we made the impact in the world we had hoped for? You don’t need to by dying to appreciate this book, I wasn’t when I read it, although I was somewhat lost. The book speaks to those moments when we can’t see the impact we have had on others. I found it helped me reflect on the good in myself when too much changed and then grief had somehow seeped in, and clouded my mind.

The point of the book, although simple, rings so true to us all. Every interaction we have had whether good or bad has some ripple effect in this world. Everything I do is felt by others. We never really see how others interpret our actions. We see glimpses of happiness or sadness but that is only if we are aware enough to see it. It is the moments we don’t see that are just as momentous and are the ture cause of the ripples in the world.

When I was somewhat lost, I wasn’t able to understand the fact that connections bind us all together and are still binding even when we are apart. Apart can mean death, but not always. Feelings are always sujective and unique to the individual, we can never truly understand the depth of our actions or inactions. This book reminds me of how we all perceive the same picture in different ways. We don’t have to always do great things, doing kind actions, good deeds are enough. Finding ways to appreciate and reflect on the positive things you do is important for mental health.

This book is an easy read, and reminds us that a ripple of behaviour is still effective at making an impact. Small steps, small acts of kindness touch everyone. That is why I chose this book.

Jody

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Jody Thomson is a graduate of HHA's death doula certificate program.