What I Learned About Life from Death | Jane Whitlock | TEDxMinneapolis

[JayJay-kimi]

I had Cancer. Then lost two of the closest people to me to Cancer. When you get told you have Cancer, or your loved one is terminal, everything slips away except for love and compassion. Nothing is important. I live every day not planning for a future. People think I'm crazy, or wrong, but I say live for now tomorrow might not be here.

[radicalhonesty]

I try to process all I feel,
as I watch this video...
But the pain is too great,
too big, too overwhelming.
smothering: I am breathless.
I am drowning, suffocating.
Dying of loneliness and longing.
I can't bear it. I just can't.
Please, please pray for me, friends.

May the prayer(s) you say for me, bless you, as well...

[Papin]

"Best human self: Kind, Loving and Grateful"

[katslondon]

What a special lady. So comfortable in her own skin, wearing her crinkled skirt and casual sandals, no pretence, you feel like you know her, or want to know her. What a fantastic way of looking at death and the journey there. I would hire her for someone I love who was dying.

[reneecoates]

I love this talk. Thank you for being real and vulnerable! After working in healthcare for 20 years and losing my mother to cancer without a doctor ever having conversation about death it is refreshing to hear someone talking about it in beautiful, honest way.

[maryshapiro]

WOW! THE BEST 17 minutes about death EVER!!! I am so great-full I "accidentally" found this! THANK YOU so much "Doula Jane"! At age 60 I have (finally) found my purpose: I am becoming a Certified Music Practitioner, working to create healing environments for people who are sick and dying. We provide live therapeutic music by the bedside. Person to person. One to one. I too received this "new life" as a Gift from Death: I witnessed and felt the healing power of music when my mother was dying with dementia and my father with depression a year and a month after her. I am posting your talk and sharing it with everyone I work (and play) with. (Side note: although I live happily in VA, 55 miles west of DC, I am proud to be born and raised in MINNESOTA ;). Blessings and P E A C E to all who watch this.

[heatherstorm]

Thank you. I am visiting my elderly parents at the moment, who I don't get to see very often because I live far from them. My father has had a fall and although he broke some bones, he's OK. But he doesn't feel that he's doing that great, he feels the breath of mortality. Today we are going to my uncle's memorial service. My mother is heartbroken because her baby brother died on her birthday last month. She's overwhelmed because my father doesn't think he's going to make it and she's not well herself. This talk randomly came up on my feed and I now how the courage to take up some knitting today. Thank you very much.

[serenashopmx]

Jane, you made me cry and laugh at the same time. BRAVO! 👏
Thank you for sharing it with us!

[dondressel]

Carpe Diem became my motto after I was diagnosed with 4th stage cancer
Everything she is saying is so true
I have been a caregiver losing my wife to cancer over 30 years ago
Now I’m on the other end

[karenhenry]

best and most needed ted talk ever! thank you so much!

[mangoyacho]

Most captivating - mind-opening - funniest speech ever. Thank you!

[cheryllarson]

You touched my heart Jane! Thank you for being YOU!

[AskaDeathDoula]

Jane you are so authentic and so funny. I am so proud and grateful! xo Suzanne

[mariebotha]

Thank you. I attended my mom's memorial service yesterday. I vow to contemplate my own death each day. Death can indeed be equated to birth 🙏

[dawnmarie]

That was so beautiful! I just lost my mother a few days ago and it has been a very difficult time. 😥🙏

[tamdini]

This had the best beginning as birth is such a reflection to our end of life. Thank you! I work in hospice as a volunteer coordinator and it does sound like maybe she was volunteering in the wrong hospice. So many of the people I serve could not afford personal care let alone a death doula. While there is a clinical side, there is also a spiritual, emotional and personal side. Hospice is patient driven and how many times I’ve said, “I’m not leaving you until you give me the go.” We meet people where they are, and bring to them support, presence and what they love among so much more. And humor! Thank you Doula Jane for your humor! End of life work comes from many angles. Thank you all for all you do. <3

[rosemariethomas]

I'd never heard of a 'death doula' until recently but it makes perfect sense, if we have them for birth, then why not at the other end. Thank you Jane!

[jodiejo]

Bravo. Absolutely perfect sense of humor, heart and authenticity. You’re a beautiful soul. God bless🙏🙏🙏

[ThePoochCoach]

This was amazing. 👏🏼 So glad to have found a kindred spirit. I have been helping people with their dogs’ transitions for years. ❤

[emilysez]

Jane, thank you. I'm dealing with the death of a loved one and you really helped me. Everyone should see this, it's so funny and so moving and so universal.