Have you celebrated a smile? I know I missed many of these opportunities as I was raising our children. So much to do, so much to consider as a new parent. Now that my kids are adults, I am seeing so many opportunities to smile and celebrate the moments that make me smile.  I considered this recently when a subscriber to my blog, While We're Still Here (I'm Still Here), responded to my suggestion for my readers to share their "nuggets"--thoughts or phrases they could repeat and share in tough times, rough times, or to encourage others. You know, like old wives' tales, like "A stitch in time saves nine"? There's deeper meaning behind the nugget and we can pull them out when needed. She shared, "Celebrate Every Smile". Loved it!
I included another nugget in this podcast episode. Listen in and learn about it.

grimtea.com
https://whilewerestillhere.com

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Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

We made it to the end of our topical list of the types of Thanatology and how each school of thought studies and examines dying and death. Social thanatology encompasses anthropology, sociology, cultural differences, and ancient to modern traditions not only in the United States but from all over the globe, whether a large city or remote tribe.
How do people mourn, grieve, celebrate the life of someone they love? It's a journey I want to explore with you all as the weeks go by, so we can learn together how other cultures celebrate and grieve and the practice of traditions throughout the generations, from all over the world.
 
I hope this series has been informative and educational. If you have comments or would like to share any cultural traditions or ceremonial practices around dying and death, drop me a line at either my website grimtea.com or whilewerestillhere.com. You can also subscribe below to get news and blog posts as well as a first listen to each podcast episode. 
[email protected]

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

Spoiler alert: I discuss the final portion of the series This is Us. If you haven't gotten to the end of the series and you don't want me to spoil it, you may have to download this podcast episode and save it for after you finish watching Season 6 of This is Us. It isn't the last episode in Season 6, but it is called The Train. Hence, my inspiration for the message I bring you today. 
    How one comes into the world and another goes out of the world. How I get onto the tear train time after time brings me a little closer, almost like a trip I take each time to reach The Good Death. 

Reach me: 
grimtea.com
[email protected]

Check out the referenced television series: 
https://www.nbc.com/this-is-us

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

We touched lightly into thanatology ethics, now we will explore the ethical choices and decisions made by patients and their care providers as well as family members. These are not as simple as it may seem. How do patients and their providers agree when facing end of life? How can we prepare our providers to follow our wishes? Take a listen.
Reference materials: 
https://f1000research.com/articles/8-1193#:~:text=Home%20%20Browse-,Moral%20injury%20and%20the%20four%20pillars%20of%20bioethics,-ALL%20METRICS.
https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-020-00502-5
 https://journals.sagepub.com 
(Henry, B. Evolving ethical and legal implications for feeding at the end of life. Ann Palliat Med 2017; 6(1): 87–90.)

Reach Kathy:
grimtea.com
[email protected]

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

Documents: We have documents that describe our end-of-life wishes, documents that instruct our healthcare team and family members, indicate our funeral choices, and tell people how my estate will be managed. But when I considered becoming my friend's legal healthcare decision maker, I felt a burden I didn't expect. She had never asked me to do this and yet I found myself on a path of taking on this role. How could I go forward with such an important legal process without even asking my friend? 

Other ways to reach me and join the conversation. 
grimtea.com - blog and podcast episodes
whilewerestillhere.com - blog and podcast episodes, plus subscription so you don't miss any episodes or news. 
[email protected] - commentary and questions or episode topic ideas. 

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

In this episode I am back in my studio, but without a cute puppy sleeping at my feet. 
We will explore in this episode how pastors and theologians who earn an advanced degree with certification in Thanatology use their education and experience in the fields of chaplaincy, clergy, lay clergy, and funeral directorship, while working in Hospice, palliative care, and alongside first responders. Listen for more details. 
References: 
Tyndale.ca/seminary/programs/pastoral-thanatology

American Institute of Healthcare Professionals aichp.org

Gotquestions.org/thanatology

American Academy of Grief Counseling

Association for Death Education and Counseling adec.org

How to reach me: 
Grimtea.com

[email protected]

How to share my podcast:
whilewerestillhere.buzzsprout.com 
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and many other podcast directories

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

Hello, and thanks for listening! This is the next installment of my series looking at Thanatology, or the study of dying and death. In this episode you'll hear how musician practitioners can bring about serenity, peace, and opportunity to express final thoughts or share precious moments between a dying person and the family members present. 
 
 mtai.org
 accordaschool.org
 
 If you are enjoying these podcasts, please share them with others. Let's keep the conversation going. If you have questions, comments, or topic ideas, please contact me. 
 email: [email protected]
 website: grimtea.com 

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

This episode could have been titled Kathy Unplugged, since my particular location included pretty much me and my computer and a set of ear buds. I couldn't wait to bring you today's episode. I didn't want to forget the nuggets that I learned because I felt they were compelling enough to share with you all. 
A puppy being a mirror? What?? Take a listen and see if you can picture it--looking into the experiences of a puppy being reflected into my life, and how I saw raw stuff about myself, as though looking into a mirror. It was, mind-blowing, convicting, and an important opportunity for me to learn about myself a little more. 
This is a podcast about dying and death, and I do tie it all together, but by way of a puppy. 

grimtea.com
[email protected]

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

We will continue our series with Psychology, and a little story. It's a personal experience that proved to me how valuable our psychological professions are at the end of life or after a terminal diagnosis is given. 

grimtea.com
[email protected]

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]

I planned to talk about ethics this episode, and I went off track - a tangent - so I made an Ethics Preview to keep in line with the brief descriptions of each area of Thanatology we will explore together. Once I recorded the episode and realized what I had done, while it has great content I definitely plan to share, I decided will hold onto it for now. Ethics and morals guide decision making for physicians and patients and their families. I hope you find this episode prepares you to discover some of the dilemmas doctors and healthcare professionals face every day.

You can reach out to make comments, ask questions, start a discussion or subscribe at [email protected]
You can listen to all my episodes at whilewerestillhere.com and grimtea.com, where you'll also find my blog.

Resources:
https://f1000research.com/articles/8-1193#:~:text=Home%20%20Browse-,Moral%20injury%20and%20the%20four%20pillars%20of%20bioethics,-ALL%20METRICS

https://bmcmedethics.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12910-020-00502-5

https://journals.sagepub.com

Learn.org 

(Henry, B. Evolving ethical and legal implications for feeding at the end of life. Ann Palliat Med 2017; 6(1): 87–90.) 

Send us a text

Listen and read my blog: https://whilewerestillhere.com
Reach me at [email protected]


Starting with Episode 56, the episode music was added. It was composed, produced and provided by Kyle Bray specifically for this show. Reach out to me if you want the score.
The logo artwork was provided by Maddie's Plush Pouch - [email protected]