GRF 500 Journal

50 Things I would like to do before I die

2009-01-29T09:39:00.007-05:00

Things I’d like to say to people

1. George, you are in my prayers. Be comforted by all the people who love you and care about you.

2. Lou, I love you and I’m praying for you.

3. LaBecca, you have so much to give. You are a very bright girl. I know you are hurting and I know you will overcome. You are strong-willed like your Aunt.

4. Samantha, you can be anything you wish to be. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. That is your decision.
5. James, I miss you and will see you on the other side.

Classes I would like to take:

GRF 500 Death & Dying I

GRF 550 Counseling the Dying Patient

GRF 600 Grief Counseling

GRF 625 Grief Therapy

GRF 650 Counseling Theories and Techniques

Health Goals:

1. Weigh 110 pounds

2. Eat right every day

3. Exercise daily – treadmill, stretching, weights

4. Teach my daughter to eat right

5. Have my daughter develop an exercise routine for herself

Career Goals (type of job, setting, income, and people you would work with):

Certified Grief Counselor
Successful Online Grief Support site
Minimum of $50,000 per year
Write a book about grief
I would work with everyone and anyone who is grieving

Risks I’d Like to Take Before I Die:

1). Successful Online Grief Support Site/business
2). Successful Nutrition Counseling business
3). Live a simple, minimalist lifestyle

4). Start a church
5). Grow an edible garden that feeds my family

Hobbies I would like to Begin:

1). Write a book about grieving
2). Cottage living
3). Write my life story
4). Minimalist lifestyle
5). Gardening

Family-Related Goals:

1). See my daughter grow up to be a happy successful young woman

2). See LaBecca become well adjusted and happy
3). Teach my daughter independence
4). My daughter and I should take self defense classes
5). Move back into our own home

Other Goals (giving to my community, spiritual, development of my talents, leisure):

1). Debt free
2). Financial independence
3). Cottage on a lake or beach
4). Daily meditation
5). Develop my intuitive skills

Personal accomplishments I would like to attain Before I die:

1). A house that is completely paid for
2). Be able to give my daughter the gift of financial independence
3). Peace, contentment and happiness
4). Improve other people’s lives
5). Be an activist for hemp products

Additional Goals:

1. Meet influential and successful people like Bono, JBJ, Oprah and learn from them.
2. I would love to see world peace before I die – I can dream

3. I would like to see the truth come out about 9/11, for the victims’ families sake.

4. Learn everything possible about life after death

5. Lead an examined life (An unexamined life is not worth living)

Other: live by the following virtues:

Peace
Truth
Knowledge
Health
Compassion

2009-01-26T21:37:00.004-05:00

Chapter 2 completed. It took me longer to read because I am also reviewing a book called "When God and Grief Meet" by Lynn Eib. When I am reading either book, I am inspired with new ideas for my social site.

I have been exploring what it means to be a grief counselor and have been deeply moved by what is going on with George Anthony. My heart goes out to him. This is most definitely considered complicated grief and would be something I would need to pass on to a psychotherapist.

2009-01-15T11:20:00.002-05:00

"When a person is born we rejoice, and when they're married we jubilate, but when they die we try to pretend nothing has happened." -- Margaret Mead

The unexamined death is not worth dying

2009-01-15T08:50:00.004-05:00

Just finished Chapter 1 last night and have begun chapter 2. The most intriguing statement in the chapter was "The unexamined death is not worth dying" - Robert Kavanaugh

When I first started my social community "Online Grief Support" - I had one reader who joined the community and dissed everything. "Why would anyone want to write about death?" "This is depressing" and basically told me that I should delete the site. At first, I was taken back by this request and pondered the fate of the community for some time. I am so glad I did not heed her advice. I believe death should be examined. The site helps people cope with their loved ones death. I am providing a great service. Through music, literature and art we are learning to cope with the death of our loved ones and help others on their journey through grief. I am proud that I am bringing death out of the closet to be examined.

Chapter 1

2009-01-13T11:21:00.002-05:00

Currently reading chapter 1 of "The Last Dance". I'm enjoying the reading and I am glad that the writers include humor. I like to include humor on my "Online Grief Support" site, but some find it offensive, so I wonder if I should just write from the heart and offend or be careful with every word I choose. Honestly, I prefer the former.

Also, I feel sort of melancholy when I read about how geographically distant we are as "families". Most of my family lives up north and when something devastating happens (my Uncle is in a coma and my cousin has cancer) I feel disconnected and sad that I am not by their bedside. I could move where they are, but I am caring for a family member in Orlando. This is a picture of my Uncle Bill who has recovered. But 6 months ago we were planning his funeral.