March 2022 really kicked my ass. Right at the beginning of the month, my elderly father got admitted to the ER for pneumonia and unfortunately it has been an unfolding and ongoing discovery of other health issues that have ensued. In all honesty, I have considered the possibility of my father's death since the pandemic what with the virus and anti-Asian hate crimes targeting the demographic that my parents fit into.
Death and loss have been such a huge part of this pandemic of the 2020s and with so many more ways to die and the perception of it being magnified with the news media headline propaganda to keep us all trapped in fear instead of empowered, it really got to me and for the past 2 years, I have been trying to figure out how to be as best prepared for a time like this as possible.
Thankfully, my Grief Preparation Contingency Plan (I made up this name) is actually working and I'm so happy that I had the intuition and instinct to put it together before my father's time at the hospital. And while he's still alive, I am taking full advantage of my plan and attended my first death cafe as a form of grief support. I share my positive experiences with it in this podcast along with some major points from my Grief Preparation Contingency Plan that have been the most impactful, as well as my personal thoughts about what a time like this feels like when an elderly family member or loved one is close to death, but not quite there yet.
Hope this helps someone.
My Positive Intelligence Program Coach, Amy Morikami of Self-Care For Single Women
https://www.amorikami.com/
This mental health group program has give me the gift of mental resilience, stability and taking on obstacles and confrontation in a more calm, productive and peaceful way.
The Death Cafes I have attended and enjoyed so far:
Jewish Gateways - https://www.jewishgateways.org/
Albany, CA
Open and inclusive to all faiths, lifestyles and cultures, ethnicities
Mission Hospice & Homecare - https://www.missionhospice.org/
San Mateo, CA
Helps with end-of-life care and advanced care planning, grief and bereavement support and holds death cafes every 2 weeks
If you like what I've shared today and would like to support my mission to shift the paradigm for a more kind and compassionate world, you may contribute to my online tip jar at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/lovelydayfaps
Or if you would like to show even more support, you can shop my Threadless merch shop online at https://teresaalabata.threadless.com where I share my art and designs inspired by social justice and healing the world. Every single design donates at least 20% to charity for equity, human rights and mental health. Plus for every purchase gets an additional $1 donated by Threadless to the designated charity listed with the design.
You can learn more about me and my multiple skills, passions and projects on my website: https://www.teresaalabata.com
Nov 9 202228 mins