Enlightened Departures- End of Life Doula Services

It was an honor to attend the End of Life Expo in Bridgewater with several other End of Life Doulas this past weekend.

It warms my heart so much to see the local End of Life Doula community of practice growing, as we strive towards destigmatizing conversations around death and dying, as well as supporting individuals and their families in preparation for, during, and after end of life. 🙏💕

Last Saturday I attended an End of Life Expo in Bridgewater with my colleagues, all End of Life Doulas from across Nova Scotia. What a pleasure to be in the company of these compassionate souls!

Left to right: Sarina Selig, Cindie Smith, Randy Harris, Cindy Kincaid, Angela Welsh, Terrie Zweep, Christel Soper, Allison Rew.

It's honestly surreal that I am a co-author of a book with so many wonderful women who have such beautiful and inspirational stories to share. Taking a leap of faith into the open arms of the infinite universe, the vast unknown, was one of the scariest things I have ever done. When I shifted my focus from nursing to End-of- Life Doula work I didn't realize at the time that I would also be starting a healing journey to rediscovering myself on a heart and soul level.

I have always had a deep passion for caring for others, especially at end of life. I experienced a lot of moral distress as a nurse, knowing that people deserved so much more than I was able to provide within the constraints of my job expectations. I couldn't be happier working with individuals and their families on such an intimate level as an End-of-Life Doula.

I am so full of gratitude to be able to share a part of my story with the world. I hope to be an inspiration for others in following their hearts desires and learning how to smile through the rain!🙏💓✨️

I have some very VERY exciting news to share.✨️🥰🦋

I'm starting 2023 off with a bang, and am officially a co-author of Smiling Through the Rain: How to Stay Strong and Build Resilience When Faced with Adversity.

It is being released on February 15, 2023!!

I am writing a chapter in this book and will be sharing my journey of transitioning from nursing to End-of-Life Doula work. I will also be sharing how I took my power back, followed my soul and my heart, and feel so fulfilled with where life has taken me.

As with any journey, I faced many challenges to arrive where I am today. I am honored to be able to share some of my story in hopes of inspiring others to follow the path of their heart and soul, regardless of doubts and obstacles placed in their path.

When life gets uncomfortable know that you have the INNER STRENGTH to push forward, and that the discomfort you are feeling means that growth and better things are on the way.

This is truly one of the most exciting things that I have ever been a part of, and I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity! 🙏💕

SIimply holding space for someone can make the world of a difference 🥰

End of Life Doula course being offered by Douglas College in Halifax Aug 8-12, 2022.

The in person training is so valuable 💞 If you have any questions, I will do my best to help 🥰

https://www.douglascollege.ca/programs-courses/continuing-education/health/courses/brev1100?fbclid=IwAR24jRc5-OQEZIWupc58SJxRh_NGaUtn-AC1j6Af2NLUuC2rNKFUuh3MbNQ

End of Life Doula (BREV 1100) | Douglas College Make a positive impact in your community and help those who need support by becoming an End of Life Doula. Are you working in health care and looking to receive end of life doula training within a Canadian context? Or maybe you’re a family caregiver who wants to understand the complexities of deat...

Introducing a six-part discussion series - Death 101. We’ll meet in-person to wonder out loud and learn together about the practical aspects of dying. It’s a great way to kick start making decisions and it’s really is the kindest thing you can do for yourself and those you love. Please forward questions and register using the contact info on the poster. (Session 2 guest speaker is Jane Gourley-Davis, Estate Planning Lawyer with Patterson Law.)

💫Website launch!

After many many hours spent working on the Enlightened Departures website, I am pleased to say that it now up and running!

💓Looking forward to connecting with more beautiful souls and help others to LIVE WELL while being supported through preparation and end of life transition.

💙💜 www.enlighteneddepartures.ca

I am SO GLAD to be back in this space with all of your amazing souls!

I found great benefit to stepping away from social media for a few weeks, as it allowed me to focus inward (which I really needed!). I also spent a lot of time in nature which was therapeutic and healing on many levels 🌿🌊

Looking forward to connecting with all of you again and walking forward TOGETHER on this journey of destigmatizing discussions about death and dying, supporting those in preparing for, during and after end of life, and making the most of our FINITE LIVES 💓💓

Now is the time💫

I have decided for my overall health that I must unplug from social media for a couple of weeks and turn inwards to prioritize myself and my health.

I have gone through a lot of growth and transformation lately, including risigning from my part-time nursing job, in order to align myself with my soul purpose and focus my work as an End of Life Doula.

Through all of the changes, I have not really taken the time to pause reflect.

I am taking a step back for a few weeks so that I will be able to give 100 percent of myself in order to be of better service to others through my work as a Doula.

💙💜💙 Self care is SO important. I tell this to others often, and for once have decided that I need to listen to my own advice.

👉 If you are looking to reach out to me you may do so my emailing me at [email protected], or send me a message through my FB page - Enlightened Departures - End of Life Doula Services (I will still be checking messenger).

🌞 I am looking forward to seeing all of you beautiful souls again once I am rested and recharged!!

With love and light
-Sarina

Grief is love.




Perhaps the most painful kind of love is called grief, which happens when the object of a person’s love is taken away with no hope for return.

Grief is love and the confusion caused by not knowing how to love someone who is gone. 

Grief is love’s frustration, bitterness, anger, and resentment at death’s destruction.

Grief is love realizing, if it wants to thrive, it has to be creative and find new ways to connect and be fulfilled.

Grief is love’s unwillingness to give up.  It’s stretching bonds and redefining limits in order to create a space where you can love someone in their eternal absence.

Reference : whatsyourgrief.com

👉 I HIGHLY recommend the book 'It's Ok That You're Not Ok' by Megan Devine.

This book has so many insights into better understanding grief💚

Someday, we will all die.

The truth is, life is finite. We all make an entrance into this world and one day, we will exit as well.

I have been working on my personal end of life wishes and plans over the last little while. One big thing has surfaced for me through this process is:

I have a fear of being forgotten.

This is something that I didn't acknowledge until taking the steps to document my wishes.

I do not want my name to something that is forbidden to be mentioned. I do not want stories of shared memories with me to be suppressed by my loved ones.

I hope they speak of me often.

I hope that I am remembered for my compassionate heart, my sense of humor, my passion for educating, and my creativity.

What is something that you hope people remember about you after you're gone??? Comment below 💚

Thinking about and planning your end of life wishes can be TERRIFYING.

💜 It's not your fault that as a society we generally avoid thinking about death, let alone have conversations about it.

💙 Planning your end of life wishes and discussing these wishes with your loved ones will be much less daunting if you have support, guidance, and break things down into much smaller steps.

💜 You DON'T have to have everything in place overnight.

💙💜💙 With the Elevated Transition Method at Enlightened Departures, a well- rounded and holistic approach is used when planning, discussing, and documenting your end of life wishes.

🤔 Imagine if something unexpected and sudden happened to you and you were no longer able to speak for yourself.

You are unable to tell the healthcare team - "NO, I am not okay with that intervention".

Is your family aware of your wishes?

WHO WILL MAKE THE DECISIONS THAT YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE FOR YOURSELF?

If this is something that you have often thought about, have been putting it off, or are unsure on where to start...THAT'S OKAY!

💙💜💙

DM me or send me an email at [email protected] to learn more about how I can help you to ACKNOWLEDGE, DISCUSS and DOCUMENT your end of life wishes!

Allow yourself to have the peace of mind that you and your loved ones deserve😊

Thank you so much Cindy for your kind words 💓.

It was an honor to be able to work with you to create a holistic Personal Directive that reflects you and your wishes!




Have you been thinking that you would like to have a Personal Directive to reflect your values and beliefs, medical and personal care, and environment?

Not sure where to start?

Send me a message or email me at [email protected], so that we can further discuss the process of creating a holistic Personal Directive for you!
💙💜💙

It can be difficult to know what to say or what do to help someone who is experiencing grief.

It is human nature to want to FIX things in order to make people feel better.

We need to realize as a society that there is no fix or reversal for loss.

None of us are in a position to tell another how to grieve. Grief knows no boundaries and no timelines.

Everyone experiences grief in a way that is completely unique to them.

There is no 'get over it', 'you needed this death in order to learn what was important in life', or 'everything happens for a reason'.

We cannot try to make someone who has experienced a loss to "make sense of" or "justify" what has happened.

This is not helpful, it is hurtful and devalues what the person is experiencing and feeling.

If you do not know what to say, or do, simply BE PRESENT, and listen with compassion in your heart 💚

AMAZING BOOK:
'It's Ok That You're Not Ok' - Megan Devine

HAPPY PRIDE everyone!!
❤🧡💛💚💙💜

As a member of the LBGTQIAS2+ community, Enlightened Departures proudly provides a safe and inclusive environment where you can be your TRUE AUTHENTIC SELF.

NEVER be ashamed of who you are, or who you love. You are AMAZING and PERFECT just the way you are!

LOVE IS LOVE.
YOU ARE LOVE.

YOU ARE LOVED!!!
💜💙💚💛🧡❤

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We are pleased to invite you to our Virtual Death Café event happening on June 14th!

***Seats are limited so please register early to secure your spot.

Looking forward to an evening of heart filled conversation 💓

We hope to see you there ☺

"Yes, and we’re feeling a number of different griefs. We feel the world has changed, and it has. We know this is temporary, but it doesn’t feel that way, and we realize things will be different."
- David Kessler

Do you want to better understand the discomfort that have been feeling during the pandemic?

I highly recommend checking out the article below:
_________________________________

https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
_________________________________

Much love and light to all of you 💜💜 We are in this together, and we will persevere!

The "D" words- Death and Dying

As a society, talking about death has been viewed as taboo for quite some time.

This was not always the case though. Our ancestors looked after their loved ones when they were dying (and many cultures still do) - In order to do this, discussions around the topic are a necessity.

Death was and still IS an inevitable part of life.

So why are we so scared to talk about it?

🌸It makes us uncomfortable.

🌸It makes us think about things that could be unpleasant.

🌸It makes us acknowledge that life is finite, and forces us to think if we are truly living our lives to the fullest.

Just because we avoid talking about something, does not mean that it isn't going happen.

I ENCOURAGE YOU TO START SPEAKING UP!

Get comfortable using the "D" words in your day to day conversations.

The more that we use these words, the more comfortable we will become as a society.

Sure- it might sound more gentle to say someone has "passed away".

In choosing words like "passed away", we are enabling the stigma that we aim to deconstruct as a society.

I encourage you to sit down with your loved ones, and discuss the things that scare you about your own mortality or the mortality of your loved ones. Each time you have these conversations, you will become more comfortable.

ALSO, if present, your death anxiety will begin to diminish.

💜With love and light 💜

Everyday is a gift.

Do not be afraid of the things that make you uncomfortable because with discomfort comes growth.

Do not be afraid of making mistakes. You are human, and we all live and learn through our journey in life.

You will miss 100% of the opportunities that you choose not to take.

💓

Grief means something different to everyone.

Everyone experiences grief in their own way.

Grief is not linear and it knows no boundaries.

Stayed tuned for tips on how to support others who are experiencing grief 💜

Exciting announcement!

Enlightened Depatures is collaborating with Tidal End of Life Doula to bring you an upcoming event in the near future.

Details will be released soon!

Have you ever thought about what you would be accepting of for medical treatment if you became ill?

Have you appointed someone to make medical decisions for you if there is a situation where you are not capable of voicing your wishes?

Have you discussed these wishes with your loved ones?

Have you documented your wishes?

If you answered no to any of these questions, it is not too late to start the conversations and put your end-of-life wishes into a personal directive. 

Hello beautiful souls! My name Sarina and I am the owner of Enlightened Departures- End of Life Doula Services.

I look forward to working with you regardless of where you are at on your journey 💫 Whether you would like help with preparing your Advance Care Directives to outline what "a good death" means to you, you would like support at end of life for youself or a loved one, or you require grief and bereavement support - I am here for YOU!!

Do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to hearing from you!💜