Thank you for your reflections and discussion. In the last couple of months I have heard of acquaintances and relatives of friends here in Canada who have chosen MAID so it was interesting and informative to read your email. The reality of death and the choices we have or don't have are all around us and it's best not to close off and pretend they don't exist. I think reflecting on death helps us to live fuller and and more intentional lives. Thank you for your writing. You have helped me in so many ways.
Thank you, Susan, for bravely broaching this subject. Death is such a challenging topic to discuss in our culture - we want to ignore it until it finally lands on our doorstep. I am of your mindset in that I believe in absolute choice in death. I am certainly not going to wait until I'm bedridden and sickly before I make the transition to my next adventure - that just feels so passive. I want to transition at a time that I choose and that comes after deep reflection and a feeling that I've done all I WANT and NEED to do on this plane and it's time to move on to another. Blessings to you in your choice.
Thank you, Susan, for your important reflections on a stage of life that will come to all of us, one way or another and yet is somehow little spoken about. I find your thoughts wise, deep and helpful.
Medical assistance in dying has been legal in Canada since 2016. The criteria are strict, but I know two people who have had a MAID death in the last few months. One was 90 and in intolerable pain from cancer; the other was 79 and had Alzheimer's. Both deaths were long-contemplated, peaceful and merciful. I'm a longtime meditator and find this a deep and difficult issue, but I am grateful to live in a country where it is an available option for those who would so choose.
I have loved, loved loved your writing about death. I have to study these options...not clear on anachronisms. Sent it to friends who say Oregon is good too. My bias is that Francis Weller has it right, "we are in a death phobic culture..." I think that's how it was printed in T NY Times....
anyway, my point is that I view our society as wonder bread. Lets all pretend its going to be okay until the next crisis hits and then blame someone....facing life takes courage...and includes the light and dark side.....I call it individuation.
WOWZA! Quite the array of comments. I am a Certified End of Life Doula. I have personally worked people as they die. Some of illness, some because of age (something will quit working heart, brain, immune system and such), some because of a catastrophic injury.
My current understanding is that IF you want to have a choice to end your life, you must be able to 'jump through the hoops', wether you go to Switzerland, or go through the process in the states with your Doctor, you must be well enough to do all of the interviews, and applications etc. . AND you must be able to self-administer your life ending drug (s).
Also, getting old is not for the faint of heart! It is quite a journey, fraught with losses of autonomy, mobility, capacities, and more. My main clients are people who wish to age in place and die at home. I haven't met one Elder who could have done it on their own! Assistance keeps them in their home.
I applaud your courage to speak what is true for you! And most anyone who works with death will tell you that the hardest stuff for everyone involved is the lack of forethought and preparation for ones death! Those left behind in these circumstances have to make lots of decisions for their Beloved under the heaviness of grief. Conversation matter! Advanced Directives matter! Your final Wishes matter! Life and Death are indivisible. I am grateful for you Susan Campbell.
It's a difficult topic but given the rapidly transforming nature of our time, aren't many things? Ours is a time of tackling difficult issues and meaningful discourse demands we at least agree to discuss all the various topics on the table with a certain degree of openness and objectivity. It's not a pleasant subject but I applaud you for bringing it to the forefront especially as you consider your personal relationship to it at this stage of your life.
Nice to hear from you, and thanks for your acknowledgment. There is room in my May Getting Real workshop for you or both you--which is it? Send me an email so I can send info on how to register. Email me at susancampbell99@gmail.com
I am grateful for your sharing your research regarding everything : communication, being REAL, relationship, honesty, and now facing death. I am hoping for options when the time comes and am wanting to prepare. I am a health 81, Bill is 84 with beginnings of Alzheimers.
I would like to reserve a spot in your May weekend workshop. Is there still space?
Thank you for your reflections and discussion. In the last couple of months I have heard of acquaintances and relatives of friends here in Canada who have chosen MAID so it was interesting and informative to read your email. The reality of death and the choices we have or don't have are all around us and it's best not to close off and pretend they don't exist. I think reflecting on death helps us to live fuller and and more intentional lives. Thank you for your writing. You have helped me in so many ways.
Thank you, Susan, for bravely broaching this subject. Death is such a challenging topic to discuss in our culture - we want to ignore it until it finally lands on our doorstep. I am of your mindset in that I believe in absolute choice in death. I am certainly not going to wait until I'm bedridden and sickly before I make the transition to my next adventure - that just feels so passive. I want to transition at a time that I choose and that comes after deep reflection and a feeling that I've done all I WANT and NEED to do on this plane and it's time to move on to another. Blessings to you in your choice.
Thank you, Susan, for your important reflections on a stage of life that will come to all of us, one way or another and yet is somehow little spoken about. I find your thoughts wise, deep and helpful.
Medical assistance in dying has been legal in Canada since 2016. The criteria are strict, but I know two people who have had a MAID death in the last few months. One was 90 and in intolerable pain from cancer; the other was 79 and had Alzheimer's. Both deaths were long-contemplated, peaceful and merciful. I'm a longtime meditator and find this a deep and difficult issue, but I am grateful to live in a country where it is an available option for those who would so choose.
I have loved, loved loved your writing about death. I have to study these options...not clear on anachronisms. Sent it to friends who say Oregon is good too. My bias is that Francis Weller has it right, "we are in a death phobic culture..." I think that's how it was printed in T NY Times....
anyway, my point is that I view our society as wonder bread. Lets all pretend its going to be okay until the next crisis hits and then blame someone....facing life takes courage...and includes the light and dark side.....I call it individuation.
WOWZA! Quite the array of comments. I am a Certified End of Life Doula. I have personally worked people as they die. Some of illness, some because of age (something will quit working heart, brain, immune system and such), some because of a catastrophic injury.
My current understanding is that IF you want to have a choice to end your life, you must be able to 'jump through the hoops', wether you go to Switzerland, or go through the process in the states with your Doctor, you must be well enough to do all of the interviews, and applications etc. . AND you must be able to self-administer your life ending drug (s).
Also, getting old is not for the faint of heart! It is quite a journey, fraught with losses of autonomy, mobility, capacities, and more. My main clients are people who wish to age in place and die at home. I haven't met one Elder who could have done it on their own! Assistance keeps them in their home.
I applaud your courage to speak what is true for you! And most anyone who works with death will tell you that the hardest stuff for everyone involved is the lack of forethought and preparation for ones death! Those left behind in these circumstances have to make lots of decisions for their Beloved under the heaviness of grief. Conversation matter! Advanced Directives matter! Your final Wishes matter! Life and Death are indivisible. I am grateful for you Susan Campbell.
It's a difficult topic but given the rapidly transforming nature of our time, aren't many things? Ours is a time of tackling difficult issues and meaningful discourse demands we at least agree to discuss all the various topics on the table with a certain degree of openness and objectivity. It's not a pleasant subject but I applaud you for bringing it to the forefront especially as you consider your personal relationship to it at this stage of your life.
Nice to hear from you, and thanks for your acknowledgment. There is room in my May Getting Real workshop for you or both you--which is it? Send me an email so I can send info on how to register. Email me at susancampbell99@gmail.com
I am grateful for your sharing your research regarding everything : communication, being REAL, relationship, honesty, and now facing death. I am hoping for options when the time comes and am wanting to prepare. I am a health 81, Bill is 84 with beginnings of Alzheimers.
I would like to reserve a spot in your May weekend workshop. Is there still space?