“When we pay attention to nature, offer her our gratitude and tender care, it becomes easier to envision the magnificence that will invariably sprout from these soils fortified with ash and tears.”

I try not to feel anxiety on behalf of those I support. This is challenging when I think of folks approaching end-of-life who have not yet connected with a local hospice organization. Yet, when the topic is raised, so often the terminally ill bristle, and caregiving loved-ones respond “oh no, it’s not that bad yet.” But I implore them to recalibrate their perceptions. Hospice was not created to descend at the last second when death seems imminent. Rather, it is meant to support the dying and their families during the last 6-12 months of life. And, my personal believe is that easy, often free access to hospice is one of the greatest boons of our society.