When I began blogging in the latter part of August 2012, I did so with two goals in mind. The first was to chronicle my journey of walking the El Camino and describe for my family and friends that journey. I completed the El Camino in October and continued to blog about the remainder of my hiatus in Spain, France, Belgium and a few days spent with family in England. My second goal was to endeavor to blog about my journey through the winter stage of life. I have just begun this winter aging process and it is my desire that I will walk this journey with hope, much grace and with lots of happiness and joy tucked in my back pocket.

I am a firm believer that if you are present with your spirit and the universe you usually receive gentle nudges which offer insight to problems or situations where you are seeking clarification or which may give you pause for reflection and open discussions with family and friends.

The past several weeks, I have received several such nudges.

One of the films shown by the Rockies Film Festival was Director Michael Haneke’s film Amour which portrays a powerful and very moving portrait of an elderly couple struggling with their mortality. This film provides insight of deep abiding love, yet depicts the struggles a husband encounters as he watches his friend, lover and wife slip further and further away by a series of strokes.

While I was puzzled by some of the scenes and the ending, the film did provide many opportunities for reflection about aging, sickness and the challenges to be met along the way.

The second nudge came while listening to CBC’s The Current with Anna Marie Tremonti and her interview with Susan Griffiths.

Susan Griffiths – I honour and admire you.

I have never meet Susan Griffiths and that opportunity will never become a reality. Winnipeg Free Press story.

I admire you for your courage and your fearlessness in making a choice that was correct for you and honouring to your spirit against the social norms and laws of Canada.

I was supposed to be working but I listened attentively to your interview with Anna Marie Tremonti as you described your sixteenth month  journey being diagnosed with your horrible disease and the road you travelled to reach your courageous decision.

This interview once again gave pause and reflection to aging and dealing with death through dignity.

Oh yes, there was a third nudge. Again listening to CBC at work, Mark Forsythe on BC Almanac featured a physician discussing the need to have legal documents in place so your wishes are carried out should a medical crisis arise. Having an Approved Directive in place causes less confusion and stress as medical personnel and family struggle to make choices at what is a critical time for everyone.

So yes, I will continue to walk my winter journey knowing that there will be more struggles and numerous challenges each of which I will attempt to face with hope, grace, happiness and joy but, also, knowing I can make choices that I feel are best for me on this pathway.

So…. one hundred posts written and the journey continues……..

A journey taken one step at a time