From LA to NYC: Advocate Adventures

I have been a little remiss with this blog because I have been traveling, speaking, meeting people, and learning in an effort to live my advocacy for end-of-life preparation, family caregiver support, and grief literacy.

Since I last wrote, I have attended, spoken, and/or interviewed with: Family Practice Residents at a hospital in the Chicago suburbs, IG’s @howtotrainyourdoctor Matthew Tyler, MD, Jodie LaVoie of Widows in the Workplace, the Widow Squad’s Holiday Hope Summit, Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver podcast, attended the Endwell Symposium in Los Angeles, Co-Crafted a Death Over Drafts event in Venice Beach with several esteemed DFFs (Death Friends Forever), Mourning Dove Medical podcast, Arkansas Hospice’s social Services Division, and the Open to Hope cable television show and podcast in New York, Elizabeth Coplan’s play Til Death just off-Broadway and so much more.

Each and every one of the experiences I have had in the last couple of months – from speaking to large crowds to one-on-one conversations – has been a gift. The cumulative effect is overwhelming in an incredibly rich and fulfilling way. If any of the above interests you, please find them on your favorite social media platform or search engine.

In November, I put together a free download called A Griever’s Guide to the Major Days, based on the collage on page 73 of my book, The Hospice Doctor’s Widow: A Journal. I have been astounded at the huge number of downloads in the short time it has been available. If you have not had a chance to look at it, please access it here:

If you know of someone who would benefit from reading it, please share by forwarding this email or the opt-in link itself. While the holiday season highlights the need for this supportive guide, the suggestions apply throughout the year as grievers face birthdays, anniversaries, deathiversaries, and other significant dates.