I'm about to begin a new journey.
A new direction in my life, that will add to all the other things, that conforms me into the person I am.
We all have new journeys.
New journeys are always entering our lives.
A new job. A new relationship. A new school. A new baby. A new home. A new diagnosis. A new ... (fill in the blank).
Some we choose. Some are given to us. Some are stumbled upon. Some are prayed for. Some hit us like a bolt of lightning and blindside us. They come in many forms, and many happen during our lives.
All those "new" journeys ... collectively ... become the history of us.
That's an interesting thought to me. The "new" becomes the "history". (Eventually, anyway.)
This new journey of mine is in it's early stages. But I anticipate MUCH from it as time goes on.
It promises to offer me many life lessons. Many blessings to count. Many memories that I will be able to recall when I need their strength, encouragement, peace, clarity, or any number of things that they will offer me.
I have chosen this journey. I wanted it. I feel called to it. I know I'm meant to walk it.
The journey being ... I will be volunteering with a Hospice program.
Hospice is an organization that offers help to dying people. It does NOT help people die. ( A common misconception of their purpose).
If you would like to know more about their philosophy - please ask. I'd be happy to share it with you.
What I've mentioned, briefly above, is that Hospice is care and comfort given to people who are dying and at the end stages of their life - and care and comfort to their family members and loved ones.
I'm in the training program now, and it will continue a few more weeks. After that, I will be working directly with patients and their families.
There is a lot to take in and learn through this training process alone. The philosophy, the purpose, the misconceptions, the physical and spiritual care that goes into helping the patients, friends and family members. And so on...
The training is not something to be rushed, or taken lightly. It's a profound and honorable thing to be part of, and I'm humbled just at the thought that I feel called to be involved.
I know there will be very hard aspects of this. Sad experiences. Heartbreaking moments. Though I don't enter this with a deep wisdom, I enter it with my eye's and heart open to knowing this will be part of the experience.
I've lost several friends and family members through the years - I know the roller coaster of emotions that the final days bring. Perhaps my being able to hold a hand, and simply "know" what that ride is like, will help someone on that ride ... know they are not alone.
It's suggested that we, the volunteers, journalize our journey of working with Hospice.
Since I have journaled for years, and have blogged (even just a few times in the past few months) ... I thought I'd combine all the aspects of this suggestion ... and use this blog as part of my recording the newness, and eventual history, of this hospice journey and it's heart lessons.
I want you to know - I will never disclose anything that would in anyway be able to identify a particular patient, family member or co-worker that I will be working with.
This blog/journal of mine is to reflect my feelings - my insights - my lessons learned - my questions - my heart - all that this journey will offer and teach "me".
To disclose identifiable details of anyone else would be inexcusable, and I promise not to do so.
What I do promise, is that I hope my journey and my recording of it here will inspire your hearts. Strengthen your lives with the lessons that others will be sharing with me - either in their own words, or by their example.
We're all on this journey around the sun - together.
Death is part of life. We share it.
Though hard to embrace it - it can blend into a beautiful sunset time, that will help complete our purpose of this earthbound time we have together.
I don't intend for this blog/journal to be a sad memorial of thoughts. Rather, I want it to be uplifting and honorable to those who make their life stories worth sharing - because they will make us better! Because of who they were!
Please, feel free to share your stories, your thoughts, your lessons learned from this type of journey, too.
Like I said, we're all on this journey around the sun - together.
