“People are not limited so much by their illness as by their attitude to it. The illness may present physical challenges, but the emotional challenge is often far more important. Our human spirit may stumble as the path ahead appears too daunting, yet with support and encouragement, our resilience can be re-enabled and used to find creative solutions. We are all individuals, and one person’s plan may not be a good fit for another who, outwardly at least, appears to be in a similar situation. Enabling people to be architects of their own solution is key to respecting their dignity. They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated personhood.” *
Excerpt from With the End in Mind: Dying, Death and Wisdom in an Age of Denial by Kathryn Mannix, MD,author, palliative care doctor for 30 years and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) practitioner.
Why this book?
I heard Dr. Mannix on a CBC podcast ** and knew that I had to read her book. Listening to her on the podcast and reading her book make me wish that I could sit down and talk with her in person. She seems kind and wise.
Instead, I read a chapter every morning. Her writing gives me much to think about as I recall deaths of my loved ones and contemplate the deaths that I will encounter in my family, friends, neighbors, and, of course, myself.
Some might think that reading about deaths would be depressing. Actually, I find it comforting. It gives me a framework for thinking and talking about the inevitable. ~Lori
*….They are only in a new phase of life; they have not abdicated personhood.” When my Husband was dying from cancer, he commented more than once, “I am still here!” He hated when his loved ones (including me) tried to shield him. He worked until about a week before he died…from his hospital bed. He was as active and engaged as his illness permitted until the end.
**”White Coat, Black Art” and “The Dose” CBC podcasts with Dr. Brian Goldman.
Lori Greer in Portland 
I was afraid of death, even after all I have been shown by Spirit in showing me that very subject. So one night I had an allergic reaction to some medicine and slowly my lungs blew up like an asthma attack and after a short while I knew I was going to die and just before I ‘let go’ something very deep inside me said ‘please forgive me’…and suddenly a most beautiful, loving voice spoke to me and said ‘I am the giver of life’. So I let life go. Everything was calm, and after a time, very slowly, my breath came back. Where am I now? I can see the beauty so much more in life, even see that it all has a purpose. Yes, even the bad bits, if not more so…because they show us one side of us so that when we see the other side we appreciate them all the more, until we find a true meaning in our hearts, what love really is. I have now come close to death three times and what I have been shown has given me much courage to appreciate ‘life’ much more…and given me courage that each and every step is also giving me a gift. In seeing one side of our ‘conditional love’ in those hard bits in life we are being readied to understand the other side that is ‘unconditional love’. Yes, it is hard…but the answer is beyond words. There isn’t even a word in our language that could describe it…but you wouldn’t want to if you touched it…and you will ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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Mark, Thank you for sharing your experience and insights. Beautiful and reassuring. Unconditional love heals the soul. ~Lori
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That it does kind lady…in each step we take ❤️ 🙏🏽 🦋
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We have always tended to treat dying, and death, as separate events in our lives, whereas they are an integral part of living. There can be no life without death and, when we can learn to accept the inevitable, and discuss it, then death becomes so much more manageable and not something to be feared.
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I agree Lori, most persons seem afraid to put themselves in such a mental frame, but it can be comforting and from it we can prepare ourselves…
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Death of a loved one is probably one of the hardest things for the survivors to cope with. It takes courage to rearrange our lives. I see that you have that courage, Lori.
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Thank you Anneli.
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I so agree with Peter above. In my case, I still regularly think about my parents to try and keep my wonderful memories
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of them alive.
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I’ve just placed a hold on this book with the digital public library here — thank you!
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