Sept 14 2022
A Personal Message from David
Clients and Friends, My son, Chris, spent eight years studying, working, and exploring Europe. He returned to Cleveland last September to receive treatment for advanced cancer. These past few weeks in hospice—and this past year—have been a gift of time. Chris and I were able to renew our relationship, emotionally heal, and be fully present together on his journey—with all of the nuances of both relationship and self-care.
This week he passed into the Light. I will be closing my office for the next month to allow Deb, our family, and me time to grieve, regroup, and find ways to celebrate his life and his magnificence. Despite my deep grief, I feel blessed and grateful for the time I have had with Chris. My familiarity with this process, along with my ability to know that there was a peaceful end to his journey, doesn't make it any easier or lessen the pain of loss I feel today. I feel emotionally stretched, untethered, ungrounded. My wife, my home, my family and friends have been my anchors. I am so grateful for everyone’s love, prayers, and support.
The following was a response to a blog post someone sent me and speaks of the balance we aspire to: “The work of the mature person is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other and to be stretched large by them. How much sorrow can I hold? That’s how much gratitude I can give. If I carry only grief, I’ll bend toward cynicism and despair. If I have only gratitude, I’ll become saccharine and won’t develop much compassion for other people’s suffering. Grief keeps the heart fluid and soft, which helps make compassion possible.” Francis Ward Weller
Thank you all for your love and support during this past year—especially his earth angels—who helped with rides and shopping errands. These were all the small, but powerful, reminders that we were not alone. Acts of kindness are the grace showered on us by the flutter of angel's wings. With much love and gratitude, David
“We are all just walking each other Home!” Ram Dass