Hi everybody, Yvonne Heath here with Love Your Life to Death.
I've been so excited to share the life lessons I've learned along the way
on a regular basis because I have just had the privilege of hearing so many wonderful stories along this new journey and in my nursing career, and I just wanted to share them with you.

Last month, they talked about how we need to unapologetically
share our stories because we all have a story, we all have value and
we matter and whatever we've been through. Forget the shame,
forget feeling embarrassed about your story. We've all been
through things. Now, here's the other side, when someone tells you
your story, I don't know why we are so compelled or we feel like
answering their story with our story.

So when somebody tells you their story, they just need and want
you to listen to validate it. Do some head nodding, okay, Wow, that
sounds difficult. Please stop answering their story with your story.
If you hear that someone has cancer, or they've gone through
addictions perhaps you can share your story at another time.
Not right then and there. I remember when I worked in the
chemotherapy clinic, I would tell patients, please tell people
not to share their story. Unless it's a positive one. Someone would
say, you have bladder cancer... my dad did too.... And it was awful and
all these terrible things happened.

This is something we need to change in our society, answering
someone's story with your story, and telling our terrible stories.
Let's please stop sharing other people's terrible stories when someone
is sharing theirs. Let us just validate it, acknowledge, allow, and if
we need if we have a story to tell, we can tell it at another time.
​Of course, we should all listen to each other. But let's not share awful stories when someone is trying to be a bear what needs to be supported? Something to think about.

​
 To learn more about our
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy (paperback)
of Love Your Life to Death,
   
​ or audiobook here. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk

Hi everyone, Yvonne Heath here with love your life to death.
It's the middle of May and I am having a pity party.

We have been going through this pandemic for weeks and weeks,
we've been supporting each other, fueling the positive when we're struggling and knowing that everyone is is having a different
experience in this. And there was one thing that I know thousands
and thousands of people were holding on to, they were holding on to
the hope that summer camp would still be going on. We have just learned, we were just crossing our fingers, and we have learned that summer overnight summer camp is not going to happen.

 I am grieving and so are my kids and my husband. For those who have never gone to summer camp, you might not know why it's such a big deal. My husband went to camp for over 10 years at Camp Can-Aqua and his sister did but I didn't understand it until I became the camp nurse for
five years in session at Can-Aqua.

I fell in love with camp. I carved a little eagle. I was the fun
"Patch Adams" camp nurse and I had kids sign a T shirt. These kids
just loved me and I love them back. I learned what camp really is to
so many people. For kids in the city, it might be the, the only time
that they really truly connect with nature for others who are bullied at school it's their safe haven or those who feel so much pressure from school or even their home life might not be great, or even just that opportunity to forget about makeup to wear socks and sandals to
connect with kids around the world and just to have good clean fun.

These kids are learning leadership skills as they go along and as they become campers then counselors and and head staff. It is the greatest learning for life, and knowing how fun it really can be just just having
a great time together. They all just connect. In Ontario alone over
35,000 kids who will not be able to work at Camp. That's what they
were counting on this summer for a job.

And let's be honest for parents. Oh my gosh, my kids home all summer when they were going to be going to camp. What are we going to do? I think that we need to take this pause to acknowledge and allow our feelings have a little bit of a pity party!

Just sit with this for right now. If you didn't understand about camp
and somebody's really upset, ask why did why did camp mean so
much to you and just listen without judgment, allow their feelings.
Camp is a magical place for so many people. I am sending so much
love to every kid who wanted to go to camp everyone who was going
to go to camp and just is so deeply disappointed the staff the
directors and all parents, we will get through this.

It is really disappointing right now so let's acknowledge and allow
those feelings, stay connected with people you were going to go to
camp with. Stay connected through the year and let's all look forward
to Camp 2021. I am sending love to everybody. We can do this together. Let's keep supporting one another. 


 To learn more about our
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy (paperback)
of Love Your Life to Death,
   
​ or audiobook here. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk
​

Hi everyone! It is time to have some fun at home!
This pandemic is still here. It snowed yesterday, and we are not sure
when we can see our close family and friends. Many of us are grieving something and we need to keep things fun and exciting!

As you all know, our family has a long history of summer camp.
(I know you have a favourite summer camp... but Camp Can-Aqua
really is the best!!) Every evening the camp has an "evening program"
to celebrate the end of an amazing day. One of the most popular
"EP's" is AirBands. 

Camp Can-Aqua has been doing a great job keeping the camp
community connected. As we are waiting to see how the summer activities evolve, a few weeks ago there was a challenge shared on
social media. The challenge was for campers (past and present) to
 submit their own AirBand to be showcased- Challenge accepted!!

Enjoy this short video of the Heath's dressed up, having some fun
in the basement and forgetting about what is happening in the
world for a little while.

A huge shout out to Derek and the crew at Can-Aqua or some amazing edits and special effects. We could not look this good without you!



 To learn more about our
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy (paperback)
of Love Your Life to Death,
   
​ or audiobook here. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk

Hi everyone, I am back in the Hunters Bay Studio with my friend
Sue Higgs. Sue and I have had a great conversation that went by too quickly about her amazing and incredible journey with her father
Homer, and that story also became the first chapter of my book.
It was entitled “It Was a Good Death”. Homer lived an incredible death didn’t he? “Yes he did”. Can you just tell us a little bit about Homer
so everyone knows they have to listen to this story.

He was a wonderful man who was totally blinded from an industrial accident at the age of 18, and went on to have a very full and rich life
with 5 children. He participated in many sports, he golfed, he bowled,
he was part of the Paralympics, was very rarely un-employed and did a
lot of jobs that were menial but supported our family and in his passing, created a wonderful legacy for us and helped us along on our journey.
He was the one that made it so much easier for all of us.
He lived his life fully, he lived well and he died well? “Absolutely”.

I shared with Sue that hearing Homer’s story changed my life and
put me on this trajectory of sharing incredible stories because I bring Homer wherever I go (there he is –with Maverick his guide dog)

I encourage you to read about it in my book “It Was a Good Death”,
listen to the show and if there is anyone that you know that is
struggling with what they are going through, challenges, ability,
disability whatever they may be going through, they can listen to
the story of Homer because it gives you hope and it is inspiring!

I am delighted to honour Homer and thank you Sue for sharing
your dad with me (and the world!) Tune in, you won’t be disappointed. Thanks! Bye for Now!

Radio Interview
with Sue

 To learn more about our
Get Ready for Grief
online program
click here

Purchase your copy (paperback)
of Love Your Life to Death,
   
​ or audiobook here. 

    Click here to see Yvonne's TEDx Talk