In this first official installment of the Offerings Podcast, I spend time reflecting on the recent one year anniversary of my father's death after his short battle with bladder cancer in late 2021. 

I share what the past year has taught me about the significance of grief, dying, and death in our lives as well as details about my experience witnessing my father die and the significance of why I feel it is important to share this experience and knowledge.

This episode is admittedly intimate and quite heavy and while I was recording it I thought "perhaps this would more accurately be called 'the podcast where we have tough conversations'." 

I discuss grieving and death as not only normal but necessary parts of our lives that we must learn to embrace, or at least accept. 

I also reference the work of Stephen Jenkinson, an author who writes in depth about grief and death literacy after two decades of experience in palliative care and much wisdom accompanying those experiences. 

The podcast episode that I mention, Love and Liberation with Olivia Clementine and Stephen Jenkinson is linked here.

If you choose to listen to this episode, thank you. Thank you for holding space for these thoughts and experiences. Thank you for witnessing in spite of discomfort, pain, shame, or anything else that may be arising. 

If needed, I recommend dropping into some somatic movement afterwards or at least taking a few deep breaths. 

As always, until next time, I wish you well. 

Where to Find Me:

taylarshirley.com

@taylarshirley - social media, especially instagram)

readheritage.com

@readheritage