Hospice of the Valley  
I am a Hospice Volunteer
with Hospice of the Valley



 
"I listen to my heart and live from there"


© Geery Howe











Basic Human Needs


Attention: Being aware of the signs, signals and clues that indicate what is important to someone.


Acknowledgment: Letting someone know that you recognize and appreciate him or her as a unique individual.


Affection: The human touch of warmth, comfort, humor and kindness.


Acceptance: Allowing things to be the way they are.







As You Travel Through Life


The Challenges of life stretch ever far and ever wide.


Enjoy each day you have, greet adversity with a smile,


For strength of character is rarely found without some kind of trial.


Life is a constant series of "Learning to Let Go's,"


But there is wonder in the having before each door must close.


Give of yourself to others, those less fortunate than you.


The love you freely give in life shines forth in all you do.

© 1997 Personal Poetry, Inc.


Four Gifts Of Caring

The Four Gifts of Caring are tools to help families and friends heal relationships, as well as for the purpose of "letting go" and "saying good-bye." These Four Gifts can be shared by the person who is dying to loved ones as well as by loved ones to the person who is dying -- it is a two-way street and one-to-one is especially effective.

1) I'm sorry (FORGIVNESS) - a time when it is possible that forgiveness and reconciliation are experienced -- we can say we are sorry for anything that may have gone wrong between us in our relationship with another person.

2) I Love You (LOVE) - some more meaningful "I Love You's" can be said after some honest "I'm sorry's" have been shared -- people really do like to hear the words I love you" said out loud. This expression of caring is not something to take for granted.

3) Thank You (GRATITUDE) - for who you have been in my life -- my husband, my wife, my son, my daughter, my mother, my father, my sister, my brother, my friend -- a time to do some life review -- looking at the good times and maybe even some of the not so good times -- getting out the family photo album or videos and sharing -- expressing one's thankfulness for who this person or who these people have been in my life.

4) Good-bye, I'll be Okay (FAREWELL) - this may be the hardest of the Four Gifts, but, nevertheless, a most important gift. It is perhaps both giving and receiving permission to let go. It is not that there will not be pain and grieving, but, at some point, it is the time to say "Goodbye" and to let the other person or persons know that you are going to be "Okay."

An interpretation of the writings of Elisabeth Kubler - Ross by Beverly Ryan LCSW: Hospice of the Twin Cities.