Reminder from the Universe, aka Patti Digh.

It is 6-something AM. I just sat down at my computer to open my work email, with apologies swarming around in my mind to tell my boss about why I am not caught up on this and that. Instead I find an email from the amazing Patti Digh, author of the blog called 37 days (look to the right of this page and click on 37 days, every day) AND a book called Life is a Verb. From what I have heard, Life is a Verb is a book that should just be read. By everyone. So go do it.

I was so struck by her urging to think and write about what we would do if we had 37 days to live. Not too long ago, I took up the challenge and sent it to her. I was surprised at my own loss of words. Usually I have so much to say about death, as I have devoted so much time and energy to hospice. My book shelves are filled with titles that contain the word "dying." My dream is to counsel humans through the beautiful transition of death and show that death is a remarkable opportunity for healing and letting go. However, when it came to writing about my own last 37 days, I felt small, like I had nothing to say.

The responses that she has been posting from other readers are so moving, I did not feel my words could match up.
They may not. It does not matter. Part of the deal of dying, which we are all doing, is to stop caring about those things. But look!

http://37days.typepad.com/37days/2008/08/day-10-remember.html

If you read what I wrote, you will see that another part of the dying deal is to stop apologizing. This is almost impossible for me, but at least for today, I will not send the apology emails that I intended to send to work folks. I will just simply start my day.

The part that makes my heart jump is when she says she is in Cleveland in early November. Coffee with someone who devotes her time to making people feel connected and focused on the important things in life? It has been a long time...