Aging, illness, caregiving, grief and end-of-life wishes.  What do these issues all have in common? – They are very real, inevitable issues we will all face at one point or another in our lives and ones that many of us have not discussed with others.  Hospice and Palliative Care of St. Lawrence Valley invites you to learn about these and other topics by participating in our free book discussion group.

The first quarterly meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 19th from 5:00-6:30PM at the Hospice Center located on Route 11 in Potsdam.  The first book up for discussion is The Four Things That Matter Most by Ira Byock, MD.  Dr. Byock is an international leader in palliative care and the founder and chief medical officer of the Providence Health & Services Institute for Human Caring in Torrance, California.

The book focuses on the importance of four simple phrases: “Please forgive me”, “I forgive you”, “Thank you” and “I love you”.  These phrases, while simple, carry an enormous power to mend and nurture our relationships and inner lives.  The sentiments they convey provide a path to emotional well-being, guiding us through interpersonal difficulties to life with integrity and grace.

Dr. Byock explains how we can practice these life-affirming words in our day-to-day lives. Too often we assume that the people we love really know how we feel.  He demonstrates the value of “stating the obvious” and provides practical insights into the benefits of letting go of old grudges and toxic emotions.  His stories help us forgive, appreciate, love and celebrate one another.

While the group is free to attend, participants will be responsible for obtaining their own copy of The Four Things That Matter Most.  The book is available for purchase at Amazon*.

Interested individuals are asked to register with Linda Caamaño at (315)265-3105 or lacaamano@hospiceslv.org

 

* Please consider selecting Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley as your preferred charity when shopping with Amazon Smile (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/22-2627929)