Lessons for the Living (film)

[Muzz]

Death seems to be something that our msm collective borg western society loves to relish in the gory hollywood fictions. But there is little on the real human interaction with it.

I was impressed with the hospice workers courage and humanity especially the young guy called Mark.Hope you enjoy.



Moving through New York City's fast-pace, life often seems a blur.Yet, within this city, a group of people quietly seek solace by spending time with the dying.

Lessons for the Living reveals a unique subculture of Hospice volunteers as they reflect on their experiences and philosophies of life and death. Among them, a teenager escapes from the drama of high school by sitting bed side with a man whispering wisdom to him only to bring his corpse to the morgue one day later. A hard-edged corporate lawyer searches for meaning and finds his experience with the dying worth more than his riches. A shaman passes through the heavy hospice door and communicates with people's nearly dead souls. A young woman cherishes seeing the very moment of passing and the song sung directly after. A terminally ill but vivacious woman talks about the dying people she's met with unexpected humor and grace - and is amused over her own, fast approaching, death. However small or great these moments spent with the dying are, these volunteer's lives have been change forever.



http://vimeo.com/24693384
http://vimeo.com/24693384


http://lessonsforthelivingfilm.com/p/Main.html


I liked the poem dictated to the nurse -

If the sun sets every night and rises every day
If the flowers die and die to bloom again
If the deepest wounds heal
If the greatest pains are forgoten
Tell me what does one fear in life of course
Sometimes I will bloom and sometimes I will die.

[Ineffable Hitchhiker]

How profound and moving!
My deepest respect to the people that volunteer their time to be with others, some of them strangers.

A message from Paul to Mark, a volunteer and high school student :-
"It´s your duty in life to find happiness and make other people happy."

I loved Kathleen´s sense of humour.
"Have you ever been in one of those restaurants with a railroad train? It goes around and delivers your hamburger or your sushi or whatever it is , okay? So, the train is coming around and some days I am going to get a hamburger, which I love, and some days I´m just gonna get death. Everyone´s got the same railroad train. "
:)

Thank you for those messages from beyond, Paul and Kathleen.

[Samsara]

“We run after values that, at death, become zero. ... That’s what dying patients teach you.”
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

Thank you for sharing Muzz.

[Cjay]

For most of most of my life, I was terrified of death. Eighteen months ago, that changed. Love replaced fear.

Thanks, Muzz, for sharing that excellent video.

[Muzz]

Pie n eal posted this on another thread and its worth sticking in here. Thanks Tony.

The Top Five Regrets Of The Dying
Bronnie Ware

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REGRETS OF THE DYING
For many years I worked in palliative care. My patients were those who had gone home to die. Some incredibly special times were shared. I was with them for the last three to twelve weeks of their lives.





People grow a lot when they are faced with their own mortality. I learnt never to underestimate someone's capacity for growth. Some changes were phenomenal. Each experienced a variety of emotions, as expected, denial, fear, anger, remorse, more denial and eventually acceptance. Every single patient found their peace before they departed though, every one of them.

When questioned about any regrets they had or anything they would do differently, common themes surfaced again and again. Here are the most common five:

1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.

It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.


2. I wish I didn't work so hard.

This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children's youth and their partner's companionship. Women also spoke of this regret. But as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.

By simplifying your lifestyle and making conscious choices along the way, it is possible to not need the income that you think you do. And by creating more space in your life, you become happier and more open to new opportunities, ones more suited to your new lifestyle.


3. I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings.

Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.

We cannot control the reactions of others. However, although people may initially react when you change the way you are by speaking honestly, in the end it raises the relationship to a whole new and healthier level. Either that or it releases the unhealthy relationship from your life. Either way, you win.


4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.

It is common for anyone in a busy lifestyle to let friendships slip. But when you are faced with your approaching death, the physical details of life fall away. People do want to get their financial affairs in order if possible. But it is not money or status that holds the true importance for them. They want to get things in order more for the benefit of those they love. Usually though, they are too ill and weary to ever manage this task. It is all comes down to love and relationships in the end. That is all that remains in the final weeks, love and relationships.


5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.

When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.


Life is a choice. It is YOUR life. Choose consciously, choose wisely, choose honestly. Choose happiness.

[tgops]

Nice one Muzz...:D