a way out of no way

'a year to live' groups

How to live this year as if it were your last.

A recent 'Year To Live' participant e-mailed her group: "A week ago, on December 25th, my ex-partner was killed in an automobile accident. It is a horrible tragedy, especially for our children. I just wanted to thank you all. Our group has kept me focused on mortality and the fragility and miracle of life. It has become so clear that our work together is not merely play acting. We will all make the transition and it can, and does, happen at anytime. You have all been with me the past week as I've put one foot in front of the other to meet the ground. Thank you for every little unknown gift you've given me".

If you only had one year to live, how would you want to live it? Perhaps change a situation has been draining you for a long time, or maybe you feel like you've missed out on something (or someone) that's important to you. As far from death as we think we may be, simply practicing living as if we only have one year left to live is an exploration that helps us overcome our fears and know ourselves more fully, letting us live fully and joyfully now.

Without calling death to us, being in 'A Year to Live' group lets us investigate what it means to live and die fully. It is a process of curiosity and healing that lets us savor our lives and let go of the fears we may have toward old age, sickness and death.

We explore and compare our truths in many areas:

fear and risk: overcoming our fears around death and dying - and our fears around risking living fully
presence: developing presence and awareness of, and in, our lives
life review: completing and healing unfinished business such as forgiveness and grief, and gratitude for what and whom we have been given.
older vs. elder: aging is a given. Becoming an elder is a choice.
who we really are: who (or what) is it that was born as Me, and who is it that will die? And what remains?
what happens after we die: beliefs and possibilities.
planning our own passing: the empowerment and creativity of writing our own eulogies, considering what we would like to have happen to our bodies, and how we would like our life and death honored and remembered. We find our own 'Life Song', and create our own 'death-ready' practice. We work on 'The Five Wishes', an Advance Healthcare Directive (living will) that clarifies our end-of-life wishes and which is a gift of enormous benefit to our loved ones.

We laugh and enjoy ourselves! A lot of ease is created as participants share how their daily lives are impacted by the Year To Live process, and how seriously we take ourselves.

Logistics:

The process is loosely based upon the book 'A Year to Live' by Stephen Levine (read a wonderful interview with Stephen here). The small-group format provides support and a witness as our "final" year unfolds. A dedicated group of participants meets twice-monthly for six months (condensing the year-long process to provide greater connection and support).

Meeting over the phone provides flexibility for participants, and the relative anonymity of the phone format creates a surprisingly intimate container for open and heartfelt sharing. Groups meet for just over 2 hours (with a brief break); groups are either during the day or in the evenings.

Participants receive "fieldwork" via email for your own exploration during the period between meetings (theme-specific readings, practices, self-observations, exercises). On the calls, we discuss the results of our individual explorations, we participate in facilitator-lead group exercises, which may include breaking into diad/triads (on separate, private conference lines) and then returning to share our explorations with the group.

The cost for the six-month process is $480 ($40 per meeting).

Take this opportunity to sharpen life and soften death while we still have the opportunity.

Contact Dean if you'd like to discuss whether 'A Year To Live' group is right for you.


home about integral coaching 'a year to live' group frequently asked questions about me testimonials resources for you random wisdom contact

a way out of no way

	'a year to live' groups How to live this year as if it were your last. A recent 'Year To Live' participant e-mailed her group: "A week ago, on December 25th, my ex-partner was killed in an automobile accident. It is a horrible tragedy, especially for our children. I just wanted to thank you all. Our group has kept me focused on mortality and the fragility and miracle of life. It has become so clear that our work together is not merely play acting. We will all make the transition and it can, and does, happen at anytime. You have all been with me the past week as I've put one foot in front of the other to meet the ground. Thank you for every little unknown gift you've given me". If you only had one year to live, how would you want to live it? Perhaps change a situation has been draining you for a long time, or maybe you feel like you've missed out on something (or someone) that's important to you. As far from death as we think we may be, simply practicing living as if we only have one year left to live is an exploration that helps us overcome our fears and know ourselves more fully, letting us live fully and joyfully now. Without calling death to us, being in 'A Year to Live' group lets us investigate what it means to live and die fully. It is a process of curiosity and healing that lets us savor our lives and let go of the fears we may have toward old age, sickness and death. We explore and compare our truths in many areas: fear and risk: overcoming our fears around death and dying - and our fears around risking living fully presence: developing presence and awareness of, and in, our lives life review: completing and healing unfinished business such as forgiveness and grief, and gratitude for what and whom we have been given. older vs. elder: aging is a given. Becoming an elder is a choice. who we really are: who (or what) is it that was born as Me, and who is it that will die? And what remains? what happens after we die: beliefs and possibilities. planning our own passing: the empowerment and creativity of writing our own eulogies, considering what we would like to have happen to our bodies, and how we would like our life and death honored and remembered. We find our own 'Life Song', and create our own 'death-ready' practice. We work on 'The Five Wishes', an Advance Healthcare Directive (living will) that clarifies our end-of-life wishes and which is a gift of enormous benefit to our loved ones. We laugh and enjoy ourselves! A lot of ease is created as participants share how their daily lives are impacted by the Year To Live process, and how seriously we take ourselves. Logistics: The process is loosely based upon the book 'A Year to Live' by Stephen Levine (read a wonderful interview with Stephen here). The small-group format provides support and a witness as our "final" year unfolds. A dedicated group of participants meets twice-monthly for six months (condensing the year-long process to provide greater connection and support). Meeting over the phone provides flexibility for participants, and the relative anonymity of the phone format creates a surprisingly intimate container for open and heartfelt sharing. Groups meet for just over 2 hours (with a brief break); groups are either during the day or in the evenings. Participants receive "fieldwork" via email for your own exploration during the period between meetings (theme-specific readings, practices, self-observations, exercises). On the calls, we discuss the results of our individual explorations, we participate in facilitator-lead group exercises, which may include breaking into diad/triads (on separate, private conference lines) and then returning to share our explorations with the group. The cost for the six-month process is $480 ($40 per meeting). Take this opportunity to sharpen life and soften death while we still have the opportunity. Contact Dean if you'd like to discuss whether 'A Year To Live' group is right for you.
Copyright © a way out of no way