One weekend last spring I read a story about Kensington Hospice. It was beautiful and touched me deeply. I decided that I wanted to become part of what they were doing and for me, this would mean "making people look and feel beautiful" by doing their hair.
This month I am enrolled in the Toronto Hospice course. We are learning a lot and I am experiencing feelings I never knew I had. It's a journey. The course is 35 hours and is completed over about 5 weeks. It is mandatory for all hospice volunteers. I want to tell you about an exercise we did in class last week. The topic was Grief and Bereavement. You can do it yourself if you want...
Start with a piece of paper and cut it into 12 small pieces. Take the small pieces of paper and make three rows of four squares each on a table in front of you. That is the easy part.
Next on the first row choose 4 people you love most in the world - write their names down on the first 4 squares of paper ... of course you love more but you must choose only 4. On the second row pretend your house was on fire and you could safely run in and grab 4 things that mean the most to you - write those 4 things down. On the last row - write down 4 of your biggest dreams or goals in your life.
Now imagine you've not been feeling well and have had some medical tests done. The doctors office calls you to come in. Take 1 square from each row away.
You meet the doctor and he tells you that the prognosis isn't good and that you have 4 months to live.
Take 1 more square from each row away.
I don't really have to finish this exercise because I'm already crying. I have only a glimpse of what my client is thinking and feeling. As a volunteer at the hospice I will be offering clients a shampoo, scalp massage, haircut and styling and a chance to relax for a few moments and feel beautiful inside and out.
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