MEMORY MAPPING

Dying is an inevitable part of life. Logically, you know this, and to some degree, we all know this, but nothing fully prepares or teaches you how to cope with the loss of a loved one. 

As an adult, you feel like you should be able to deal with losing a parent, a friend, a partner, or, heaven forbid, a child. Still, there's no manual or specific timeframe on moving forward. Your faith and your family can help to hold you, but it's so common to find yourself just overwhelmed with grief and pain. 

You long for their presence. You worry about all that was left unsaid. And the truth is, you have trouble imagining your life without them in it.

Memory Mapping is a tool that can help.

Finding a way to pick up the pieces and continue living your own life can be an emotional roller coaster, but acknowledging your feelings and consciously honoring the person you've lost can bring so much comfort towards peace and healing.

During this confusing time, it's vitally important to be patient with yourself and understand that mourning is a "healthy" way to cope (yes, sadness is a normal reaction and natural response to loss). As you sort through your feelings, creating a Memory Map is a therapeutic approach to celebrate experiences you and your loved one have shared. 

It's also an opportunity to connect with
the person you've lost on a spiritual level

Losing My Dad & The Lessons it Taught Me

By Michelle Dawnn • November 15, 2017

Two years ago, my dad lost his 6 month battle with Stage IV Colon Cancer. No matter how prepared you “think” you are, the loss of a parent is heartbreaking. Growing up my dad was this vibrant, physically fit man who was invincible in my eyes. Yet as I watched him slowly wither away, he became unrecognizable. Frail, irritated (well he was always irritated), stubborn (that’s in the blood line), basically not the person I once knew him to be. His illness came like a thief in the night and was too aggressive even for someone in good health to face.

The past 24 months has been a whirlwind and now that my dad’s gone, it still doesn’t seem real. It’s like watching a snapshot of my life and hoping it was all just a bad dream I would eventually wake up from. Through it all, my stepmom and brother were loyal care givers till the very end. They were selfless in sacrificing their own needs to ensure Dad was comfortable with minimal pain… taking him to every doctor’s appointment/chemo treatment, giving him total control of the remote (imagine round the clock episodes on TV land), administering meds, changing sheets, and keeping up with his overall personal hygiene… The list of duties was endless and with my father’s demanding personality, I know it was no easy task.

I wasn’t able to be there or help as much as I would have liked due to my own health issues, running a household, taking care of kids, working to keep my business afloat and in between wondering if my stepmom & brother resented me for not doing more. Then winter brought a revolving door of sinus infections to my house. The few times my family was well enough to do something fun, I felt guilty for enjoying myself while my dad was lying in a bed fighting for his life.

You'll reflect on the pictures and images that make you feel close to them so you can face your grief and engage fully with your process of healing. Taking this time to pause, gives you a sacred space to sit with your most cherished memories and all the little things you may have forgotten along the way. And this finished keepsake is a continual source of comfort to you in your grief.

Creating a Memory Map myself has given me a chance to keep old memories of my dad alive, some of which I haven't thought of in years. I now have a deeper understanding of life beyond our physical form and the meaningful messages that come through with an open heart. It's such a powerful and yet personal release of emotion because I believe these insights are direct communications from "the other side." My interpretation of your map reveals the love you shared that still endures, and gives you a way to access your loved one and everything they taught you.

Contact me to set up a 20-Minute Clarity Call to discuss how this uplifting and transformational experience can ease your emotional pain and help you honor your loved one's memory. 
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