Anna Bushell - Celebrant

Yesterday I had the privilege of leading a service for a much loved mum, nanna, sister and friend.
The family wanted to release doves at the end of the service and Sue at Doves of Life did a wonderful job and brought the most beautiful bird along.
It was a special moment for the family. 🕊

Katie Costello - Soul Midwife and Funeral Celebrant articulates this so well.

You really have so much choice for funerals, there is no right or wrong way, other than what feels right.

What a ‘wedding like funeral’ I was honoured to be part of last week 🌷 💐

A string quartet, corsages, flowers, memory cards, guests books, gifts, photo tributes and collages. Speeches, refreshments, sharing and connection.

Laughter, music and so so much love.

Every part of it bespoke; so much personalisation and all for a funeral. And all done in a crematorium chapel as well I might add.

The chapel attendant said I looked like I was off to do a wedding not a funeral 💐 What a wonderful way to be seen whilst in such a sad situation. It was such an emotional event but one that felt more of a celebration and thanks giving than anything else.

This style of farewell might not be for everybody, but it’s important to know it can be, and even in the most traditional of settings and circumstances.

You always have choices 💐

We don’t always need words to express how we feel.

Struggling to handle those strong emotions when they come up is ok.

Just know that there is someone else out there going through the same thing, that you can reach out and talk to.

My kind of yoga! 😆📖

Seems appropriate to be sharing Donna Ashworth 's words today.

I guess what I am trying to say is…
it really doesn’t matter how clean you eat, how fit you are and how many sacrifices you make for your health...

Aside from a few very bad things you can do to your body – like extremes of anything – you will live as long and as healthily, as YOU WILL LIVE.

It’s luck, it’s genes, it’s actually A COMPLETE MYSTERY.

Doctors die from cancer too.
Athletes drop dead just like that.
Some people who drink die young and some people who don’t do too.
Perfect people at the perfect, ultimate prime of their life, are taken every day.

Just like that.

It‘s lottery and no one can call it. No one.

We all have a story of someone who did everything right, yet couldn’t keep their place here on this earth. Right?

I’m not saying do not care for your body, of course not, but the best advice I have come across my friends, is to live.
To laugh, smile, sing, walk, swim, breathe, rest, meditate, enjoy, share, listen, love, kiss, run, giggle, misbehave, taste, really taste… all of these things will do your body, your mind – and your soul,
SO MUCH GOOD.

To refuse to swallow bitterness, anger, regret and fear, for they are the poisons we should really watch out for.

Just enjoy your life...

it’s a one time kind of a deal.

Donna Ashworth

From ‘LIFE’; https://amzn.eu/d/9Y6E6kz

Such a tragedy. Love and thoughts to 's family.

A look back at Michael Mosley's career Michael Mosley's family confirms his body has been found beside Agia Marina beach on the Greek island of Symi.

Sometimes all we can do is hold out a hand and let someone know they have an anchor when the waves of grief knocks them over.

Feeling through the emotions of loss is like being on the world’s worst emotional roller coaster.

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This is ok and normal.

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You are not alone and its important to know there is always someone out there that can help.

80 years on…

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the D Day Landings in Normandy, France in 1944.

Over 150,000 allied troops from 13 countries landed by land, sea and air on five beaches.

Allied forces consisted primarily of American, British and Canadian troops but also included Australian, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French, Greek, New Zealand, Norwegian, Rhodesian and Polish naval, air or ground support.

Over 4000 men died so that our freedom wouldn’t.

Their story will never be forgotten.

Lest we forget

"When you become frustrated with older people because of what they cannot do, think of how frustrated they must feel because they can no longer do it."

It's easy to feel a surge of frustration when an older loved one struggles with tasks that once seemed simple for them.
Watching them grapple with technology, forgetful moments, or physical limitations can test our patience. However, in these moments, it's essential to remember that our frustration is but a shadow of what they must be experiencing internally.

In the grand tapestry of life, the roles we play often shift. Today, we may be the ones offering support; tomorrow, we might find ourselves in need of it.
By approaching our older loved ones with empathy, we honour their journey and enrich our own, creating a legacy of compassion that transcends generations. ❤☀

✍️📷 - unknown.

Thinking of all of Rob Burrow's family, friends and team mates. 💙

As we slowly accept our new reality without our loved ones, our grief can show up in many different ways.

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Remember to be kind and patient with yourself as you go through this healing journey

It can be difficult to know what to do with those big feelings, especially the ones that seep into your very soul and sometimes steal your breath away.

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We can help each other to understand, to process and navigate through our hour and days of need when we reach out and talk about these emotions.

🤪

They are never far from our thoughts or gone from our lives.

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Every time we think of them, speak of them and remember them - they live on in our hearts.

The world tells us there are stages to grief.

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But it’s helpful to know that not everyone goes through these stages and there is no standard response because every loss is different. So, allow the messy emotions to just be as individual as you are

I want to smile again, without feeling guilty.
I want to miss you, without coming undone.
I want to celebrate your life,
without my heart breaking.

If there’s a good side of grief,
I’ve yet to reach it. It’s not getting any easier. Time isn’t helping. Some days I feel as if the pain deepens.
The roads ahead seem longer without you walking them beside me.
It’s like I’m resistant to joy.
Pushing back against my own happiness.
I’m afraid that healing means forgetting,
and I’m not ready to leave.
Let me sit here for a little while longer.
There are things I needed to tell you
that I never got the chance to.
Things you deserved to hear....

I’m sorry.
I’m sorry for not doing more.
If it was possible to bear your pain,
I would have.
Even when distant, my world was better because you were in it.
I was always proud of you.
My love for you is constant,
unconditional, eternal.
There are pieces of you I’m discovering in me. Little gifts you unknowingly left behind.
Even your absence is filled with moments worth revisiting.
Maybe instead of learning how to live without you, I’ll just bring the best of you with me.
Maybe we're not meant to move on,
we're meant to move with.

J. Raymond
"Best of You"
From The Kindred Project: Vol. II
*Available now for pre-order.

Beautiful Donna Ashworth 🥰🌊

When my heart no longer beats
cast me into the ocean, my love

throw my ash atop the water
and watch in reverence
as the moon commands her waves
to embrace every spec of my dust
and wash me into the vast heart
of this magical planet
I was lucky enough to roam

and when you miss me most
come to the sea, my love

come to the sea
and let Mother Nature remind you
we are all entirely connected
that we may walk this earth
for so many years
but we are part of its bones
forevermore

and as you stand at the water
I will rise up with all my spirit
and breathe life back
into your weary heart

when my heart no longer beats
take me to the sea, my love
take me home.

Donna Ashworth
This was today’s random age choice from ‘wild hope’

UK: https://amzn.eu/d/2j0Nquu
US: https://mangopublishinggroup.com/books/wild-hope/

Art by ALLA TSANK

We can try to ignore the pain. But it will come back time and again.

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To have some hope of healing from the pain of losing someone, it’s necessary for us to face the grief and find a way to hopefully deal with it.

As we move through life the memory of the person we lost becomes more and more a part of who we are as a person.

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Keeping the memory of that person as part of you, means you have not forgotten them.

I suspect most Funeral Celebrants think how they would like their own funeral to be and music for me is really, really important.

I'm one of those frustrated people who would love to be able to sing or play an instrument, alas that's not my skill.

So music is the rock bed of my life. How, therefore do you choose a piece of music that covers one's eclectic taste and has an important message too?

Think I've found the one!

It was played yesterday at a service I led, very last minute. It was such an honour and a privilege to lead a service for such a beautiful soul and I was so grateful to be reminded of this brilliant piece.

David Bowie gives me tingles every time.

What song would you like to have played at your funeral/Celebration of Life?

Various Artists | Feat. Heather Small | Perfect Day | Music Video Heather Small featured on the BBC version of 'Perfect Day'. The song was later released to raise money for Children In Need.Released: 1997Artists who feature...

Couldn't agree more with the lovely Laura's words.
I even have a 'My Funeral Planner' that will soon be available to purchase! 💖

What a message to receive 🖤

These words came to me today from a beautiful friend who has recently said farewell for now to her Daddy. I’m not ashamed to say I cried a little reading them.

And all I did was respond openly & honestly to her messages since learning that her dad was unwell.

So in light of this, please, please, please start normalising the conversations about death and dying.

Talk about it as if it was just a catch up with a friend
Make it part of your annual life admin when you renew your life insurance
Take out a funeral plan if you are wanting to ensure everything is paid for
Write your will
Document your wishes

It’s not as hard as having your family not knowing your wishes and never being able to ask you.

I’ll even help if you need me to.

Big love 🖤