A Different Light

Being raised in a funeral home - I witnessed death as a normal act of life.

I know this is truly a unique experience and I’ve only met a few people in my lifetime who shared in a similar upbringing. There is no question that was on purpose and experience custom for me.

Our family living room and kitchen downstairs in the back of the funeral home and all of our bedrooms upstairs.

Death was a natural expectation of life.

Yes, I still - to this day - remember harsh moments in my childhood where I struck a cord with the reality of death.

And, truthfully - I hang on and treasure these experiences.

I’ll never forget playing in my closet - the second floor of the funeral home- around 3rd grade - and beautifully stacking pink and blue satin pillows with my baby dolls. In a moment - I realized the pillows represented all the babies that had passed away. My mom innocently gave the the opposite satin pillow - as all baby caskets come with both blue and pink pillows. It made no sense to throw the pillows away when I would use them — and, it certainly made me treasure the pillows and what they represented - even more.

I can recall the first time, I ever personally cried over the death of a stranger because of the lack of visitors / flowers one man received. A man whom appeared so kind - received less than a dozen flowers - and hardly anyone attended his funeral. It made my heart sad. I wrote a poem in highschool, “To a dead man’s flowers” and it began, “How many loved ones life”.

Cancer - murders - the drastic number of suicides - innocent people dying in car accidents... oh, and the freak accidents that make absolutely zero logic or sense...

I can still hear the cries of loved ones loosing those close to them - and, I personally didn’t loose anyone close to me until I was 16. But I could “feel” the grief of others almost as if I understood the lose they were experiencing.

How old are they? How did they die?
Two questions I always asked when we were “busy”.

My point in sharing all of this — is simply to share the perspective that death is among us everyday... in every way imaginable. Babies - teens - early adults - middle aged - the elderly... it does not discriminate. And, sometimes it comes when you least expect it.

No, not everyone is raised in a funeral home - or works within a profession where they see death frequently - but, there is one thing that is real real on this earth... and that’s - none of us are getting outta here alive.

So, check inventory in your life.

Are you living the life you want?

Are you holding and possessing relationships that fuel, feed and invigorate you & that you thrive in?

You may have lost someone close to you and the grief of that loss may also be difficult to bear. And those whom care for you would hope for you to live a life you love.

Live with no regrets.
Resolve conflicts.
Tell people you love them.
Be honest.
Make decisions that help yourself and others.

If you need help along your journey - I would love to help give you the tools to have a thriving and joyful life. After being raised in a funeral home and working in hospital operations for almost a decade - It became my life passion to help others learn to manage their own personal health and care.

I made the choice to a long time ago to help others live lives they love - and I hope to live by doing exactly the same.

Joy is meant to be lived and life is meant to be experienced.