Charles Garfield, Ph.D., author of LIFE’S LAST GIFT: Giving and Receiving Peace When a Loved One is Dying:

 

When a person is dying, the impulse of many loved ones is to do something. Please explain why simply being present and open is the most important thing a loved one can do.

When sitting with a dying loved one, it’s important to “listen from the heart,” and you list an exercise to help. Please talk about this.

Even in the face of a terminal diagnosis, hope and positivity have a place. Can you explain when and how hope can be a part of the conversation?

How do you counsel people who are coming to their dying loved one with a history of anger, abuse, mistreatment or resentment? Is it possible for these people to give and receive peace and comfort?

Empathy is such a vital component of our relationship with a dying loved one, but it can be extremely taxing. Please tell us how we can keep our empathy strong and sincere without depleting our own resources.

Why are small acts of kindness so important to a dying person?

Listening to your loved one’s stories can be a very powerful aspect of the dying process. How can we learn to heighten this experience?

How can we emphasize to our dying loved ones that we will accompany them as far as we can go together?

Why did you write this book and who is your target audience?’

What makes Life’s Last Gift unique?