The Promise and The Passion Newsletter: Fall 2006

Where the journey has taken me –

I had a wonderful spring book tour with The Promise of Death, The Passion of Life in Phoenix and El Paso where the book was very well received at a variety of venues. I was interviewed by all the major media in El Paso, appearing on news programs throughout the day on ABC, CBS and Fox networks. I was once again asked to speak to students at Chapman University, where my book is required reading for the Sociology of Death classes. I had the great blessing of being asked to speak to a terrific congregation in Phoenix over the summer as The Promise of Death, The Passion of Life and its energy continue to expand my opportunities and horizons. While in Phoenix I met an outstanding woman who has linked my book to her website. Her name is Ann Albers and her site is www.visionsofheaven.com. She is a light among us and one of the warmest, most genuine people I have had the opportunity to meet.

The journey continues-

I will be on a live internet radio broadcast on September 16th between 3-4 pm on Jacqueline Marcell's program "Coping with Caregiving" heard free worldwide on www.wsradio.com/copingwithcaregiving. The discussion will encompass The Promise of Death, The Passion of Life, its concept and ideas as well as where I am headed with this journey. If you miss the live broadcast the interview will be archived by September 20th for listening-on-demand in the Archives and will be available for one year. Listen via Windows Media Player, a free download available at the top of the website.

I am also working with my publicist, Jennifer Heinly of J&J Consulting, on a variety of venues and will inform you of new activities, TV and radio appearances as they are scheduled.

Living Passionately-

As I consider some of the major questions that people consistently have for me I am aware that for most it is a question of how to live passionately without fear of loss. I do believe that fear can be replaced with awareness – death and loss can be in our thoughts without bringing fear by merely being aware of their reality in our lives and the potential, the promise, of change and life's temporary status.

My beautiful daughter gave me a special journal for jotting down ideas for the next literary journey. As I considered what to write in this newsletter, I looked to my notes in that journal. One entry stuck out as worthy of discussion. I noted that one of my yoga tapes encourages you in poses with the statement, "apply a subtle pressure". In reflecting on that statement I have come to believe that we must apply subtle pressure to our minds in order to grow and expand as people. It is not just our muscles that become stiff and unwilling to stretch to the limits we would like. Our minds and our spirits can become unyielding as well. We have to apply a subtle pressure to ourselves, to our perceived limitations. The key here is "subtle", I am not talking about over stressing an already stressed life, I am talking about assessing your heart's desire and acting in accordance with it.

Gently coax yourself closer and closer to where you want to be spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. For most of us, this is a place of peace and acceptance, a place that knows how to cherish those we love and the moments we have with them. We have to coax ourselves into letting go of life's little matters and focus mainly on those things that really count. Once we can learn to free ourselves of the angst that accompanies life's travails, we are free to feel the passion that comes from truly appreciating what is, from being truly grateful for each moment we have. In expanding ourselves in this way we can be better prepared for the challenges that will inevitably come.

Death, loss, change, and challenge continue to shape my life. As I am sure it is with all of you, these difficult things keep happening within my circle of family and friends, and pain inevitably seems to befall those who are most precious to me. If you have signed up for my newsletter, you have read my book and undoubtedly know how close I am to my sister Allie. Heartache of heartaches, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. Even with all my brave talk and writing about death I must admit to tremendous anxiety and fear as I cried to the powers that be, "Please, not my Allie!" She has undergone a mastectomy, thankfully there was no lymph node involvement, and is now undergoing chemotherapy—from which she has lost her hair. I have one of the most beautiful pictures of her I have ever seen on my refrigerator. She is bald, smiling, eyes bright and full of hope and determination—she is glorious.

This challenge in Allie's life, and therefore in mine, has put all other matters into perspective. I have applied that wonderful subtle pressure that comes with awareness to my ability to cope. I may have railed at the Fates for bringing this into our lives, but it did not change its reality. Fear has been replaced with resolve. Through this time we will walk truly grateful for every moment there is together. There is no room for fear, no time to be wasted on that. I have chosen rather than a heart filled with fear, one filled with love and thoughts of my wonderful sister at all times. I am blessed.

Passionately,

Jana