365 days left to live: The experiment of a lifetime!
Why am I doing this? The seeds were planted many years ago when I started to feel the rumblings of a calling to change the direction of my life. At that time, I’d been working as an actress in NYC for 16 years and loved it. But I began to sense there was some other way I was meant to serve. This of course also meant there was something my soul longed to explore and learn. I had absolutely no idea what that might be. So in my spare time, I began contemplating and investigating different ideas and possibilities.
After 2 years, I still had no clue. But the longing had increased significantly. So one night while doing my dishes I began pouring my heart out to God. I was telling Him/Her/It how it had been a long time and I was no closer to an answer or a direction. And then interjected a little begging: Please, I don’t care what it is, I just want to serve. I want to do thy will. It was at that point I realized later that I’d entered an altered state of consciousness. But at the time if felt very normal.
I suddenly was experiencing myself working with the dying (still washing my dishes J). I was not aware of it being in any particular capacity but I felt absolutely ecstatic. As much joy as acting had brought me, it didn’t even begin to touch this level of ecstasy.
So I said I can see what a miraculous gift this work would be for me, but what do I have to offer? Having been an actress my whole adult life and knowing less than nothing about this field of work, I wondered how I could be of service.
It was made perfectly clear to me that it would be a mutual exchange.
I have no idea how long this ecstatic experience lasted. But the next thing I knew I was leaving the kitchen and walking into my living room. As I did so, it was like all the air in a balloon escaping. The euphoria faded to black and I was left standing in the middle of the room in abject horror. I dropped from heaven into hell in a matter of seconds.
I was mortified. I thought working with the dying is not ecstatic; it’s scary, sad, morbid and depressing. I was so freaked out I quickly went to the tv and turned it on. I sat down on the couch ready to escape from this nightmare. I was going to put this experience behind me, never to be thought of again.
The tv was on the PBS channel. They were airing a documentary about a man who had a near death experience and was now dedicating his life to working with the dying. My jaw dropped to the floor and I began to cry. I muted the tv and through my tears I thanked God. I could no longer deny the miracle and the direct, very clear answer to my long held prayer. But I made it clear (as if God wasn’t aware already) that I was not happy with this answer. I had no idea what to do with the information or where to begin but promised I would keep my heart, my ears and my eyes open.
I then went back to “life” as usual and put the whole thing in a special compartment where I wouldn’t have to think about it. And kinda hoped that would be that.
And it was… until a whole 2 days later when I ran into a friend on the street. I made what felt like the fatal mistake of asking her what she was doing now. She told me she had just started volunteering for Hospice. Warning warning- compartment door opening! Yep I had to keep my promise and thankfully I did. I began volunteering. During the training I dealt with my fears and from then on it was indeed the experience I had in my kitchen. I fell in love with the work, with hospice workers and the patients. After a year of volunteering and studying with some of the greats in the area of death and dying and reading everything I could, I gave up acting and began working for hospice. In fact, I not only worked a 40 hour week I continued to volunteer on the weekends.
continue RE the value of being around the dying- if you want to know God in this lifetime work with the dying.
Why am I doing this now?
It’s something I’ve wanted to for a number of years and now without a doubt is the perfect timing.
Design with Ease
“Do you have a design in mind for your blog? Whether you prefer a trendy postcard look or you’re going for a more editorial style blog - there’s a stunning layout for everyone.”
Every layout comes with the latest social features built in. Readers will be able to easily share posts on social networks like Facebook and Twitter, view how many people have liked a post, made comments and more. With the Wix, building your online community has never been easier.
Create Relevant Content
You’ll be posting loads of engaging content, so be sure to keep your blog organized with Categories that also allow readers to explore more of what interests them. Each category of your blog has its own page that’s fully customizable. Add a catchy title, a brief description and a beautiful image to the category page header to truly make it your own. You can also add tags (#vacation #dream #summer) throughout your posts to reach more people, and help readers search for relevant content. Using hashtags can expand your post reach and help people find the content that matters to them. Go ahead, #hashtag away.
Stun Your Readers
“Be original, show off your style, and tell your story.”
Blogging gives your site a voice, so let your business’ personality shine through. Are you a creative agency? Go wild with original blog posts about recent projects, cool inspirational ideas, or what your company culture is like. Add images, and videos to really spice it up, and pepper it with slang to keep readers interested. Are you a programmer? Stay on the more technical side by offering weekly tips, tricks, and hacks that show off your knowledge of the industry. No matter what type of business you have, one thing is for sure - blogging gives your business the opportunity to be heard in a way in a different and unconventional way.
Get Inspired
To keep up with all things Wix, including website building tips and interesting articles, head over to to the Wix Blog. You may even find yourself inspired to start crafting your own blog, adding unique content, and stunning images and videos. Start creating your own blog now. Good luck!