Weekly Sunset Circle is offered on a give-what-you-can basis. If it is cost-prohibitive, please contact me at maggie@lifeatsunset.com.
Welcome!
I am so glad you are here.
Weekly Sunset Circle is an online discussion group aimed at building a community of people curious about how to live life fully, intentionally, and meaningfully through the lens of death and dying.
* Offered weekly--- drop in when it works for you.
* Register online for the Zoom link and optional resources to check out prior to discussions.
* Discussions are not recorded to protect privacy.
* Subscribe to receive newsletters introducing the monthly topic as well as weekly invitations.
I aim to offer topics that are relevant, engaging, and meaningful. Contact me with requests.
**First time joining is FREE! E-mail me at maggie@lifeatsunset.com and simply let me know you'd like to try it out.**
Interested in an in-person course? Check out Sunset Circle in Pacific Grove, CA!
March at Sunset Circle:
"It Takes a Village"
When people describe the challenges of raising a child, we often hear “It takes a village”: an acknowledgement that doing it well cannot and maybe should not be done alone. This is true for getting through all kinds of monumental (and not-so-monumental) changes throughout life: marriage, divorce, job changes, illness, or moving.
It also takes a village to help someone die well.
Independence, agency, and autonomy are fiercely valued in our individualistic culture and society. People live far away from family and communities of origin, life is complex and demanding, and “every man for himself” is a predominant thread in the Western social tapestry. Many are expected to or feel that they have to “do it all”- on their own.
People are living longer with chronic and serious illness, life is expensive, and systems are getting squeezed, with resources dwindling in many areas. It is becoming increasingly impossible to do it all on your own. Yet, at a time when community is so important, many do not have a “built-in” group of people who can make up a so-called village to support living their best life until one’s final days.
While the term ‘village’ may not apply in the modern Western world, ‘community’ certainly can. Community looks a little different for everyone. What do your community and village look like? Who is in it? How do you support each other? What is your relationship to the idea of community? How do you provide support? Receive support? Ask for it? Who might need to be invited in or hired to support daily functioning?
This month, we first examine the idea of community, relationships, and support and how that comes into play. We then zero in on specific sources of support in the End-of-Life Village: palliative care, hospice, death doulas, and caregivers. Information and resources will be shared this month during meetings; as always, the time is centered on discussion and opportunities to share your own stories, support, and ask questions.
"A good conversation goes a long way." - Diane Rehm, "When My Time Comes"