Speaking

Contact Georgia Weithe to schedule a presentation or keynote address which shines a positive light on death, to help us accept its presence in our lives.

All topics can be offered in presentation or retreat format, can be adapted to your group’s size and needs, and are appropriate for:

Palliative care organizations including the Hospice community; Death Education Programs; Bereavement Counselors and Support Groups; Human Resource Departments; Commisssions on Aging and County Department of Senior Services; Nursing Home and Assisted Living Facilities; professional associations including spiritual counselors and clergy, health and wellness educators, complementary medicine practitioners, physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists, therapists and medical and nursing students, wellness and personal growth conferences.

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SHINING MOMENTS FOR CAREGIVERS

For family members and friends providing care for loved ones at the end of life.

Shining Moments: Finding Hope in Facing Death

In this session Georgia Weithe will tell the story of how she accompanied her Father on his end-of-life journey, and share what she learned along the way. You will hear

What caregivers need to know to help loved ones transition out of this life
Why she came to the conclusion that death is a teacher and a friend.

“I never expected that facing death would be one of the shining moments of my life”, says Weithe. “I’m hoping that by sharing my experiences and the insights gained through them, I can provide you with a tool for courageously facing the death of others and the prospect of your own.”

This presentation shines a positive light on death to help us accept its presence in our lives.

SHINING MOMENTS FOR GENERAL CONFERENCE AUDIENCES

This session is appropriate for those who are not necessarily dealing with a life-threatening situation, but who have an interest in enhancing their emotional well-being. Of particular interest to conferences addressing general wellness issues and those with sessions geared toward Baby-Boomers.

Shining Moments: Envisioning What We Want and
Need As We Age

Embracing the truth of our existence - that life on earth doesn’t go on forever - allows for expansion and growth. Harvest what you have been cultivating; bring home the bounty of your life’s work and study.

Join Georgia Weithe as she encourages us to mend the emotional fabric of our lives, by not turning away from its end. Using poetry, movement, creative activities and journaling, we will reflect on these themes:

Shining Moments: where we have found exactly what we needed
Identifying Threads of Connection running through our lives
What are the Birthright Gifts we have to bring to the world
How we can find hope in facing death
Living an inner directed life; envisioning what we want and need as we age

“Freedom is already ours. NOW is the best time to direct our lives by living according to the laws that come from deep within”, says Weithe.

Mine the riches of your experiences by reflecting on the Shining Moments of your life; then move forward into the next phase, utilizing the accumulated wisdom and all of your birthright gifts.

SHINING MOMENTS FOR PROFESSIONALS

#1 Shining Moments: Finding Hope in Facing Death

To asses a patient’s physical needs at the end of life, there are technical instruments, pain scales and medication guidelines. In the realm of the spirit, however, protocols and agendas do not prevail – and without them professionals can find themselves in uncharted territory. In this session Georgia Weithe shares what she learned when accompanying her father on his end-of-life journey and offers:

Insight into the process of evolution from fear to hope from a family member’s perspective
Guideposts for creating the comfort and safety that a dying person needs
10 things death can teach us about living

Research indicates that people value spiritual care and spiritual well-being at the end of their life. In an area where there are no intellectual answers, this session will tell how to support the dying person and help them as they transition out of this life.

#2 Shining Moments: Renewal and Hope for Those Working With Individuals at the End of Life

Many professionals enter their field with a strong desire to serve, but find the demands of the job can deplete their energy and enthusiasm…and when your “container” is empty, you have nothing left to give! This session will provide you with an “infilling” as you take time to stop, relax, and reflect on the shining moments that occur when you help people transition out of this life.

This session includes:

relaxation activities to help release accumulated layers of tension
a period of guided reflection and journaling
large and small group conversations focusing on the life-supporting benefits derived from working with the dying.

Reminded that death can be a teacher and friend, your spirit will be refreshed and renewed, and ready to be nourished by the important work that you do!

About your presenter:

Georgia Weithe, M.Ed., founder of the Reflections Educational Consulting Firm, is an educator and motivational speaker who has consulted on education, wellness and personal growth issues with a variety of institutions since 1988. Most recently she has enjoyed an eight-year affiliation with the Center for Courage and Renewal's Courage to Teach Program, created by the Fetzer Institute. She is the author of Shining Moments: Finding Hope in Facing Death (Reflections Press, September 2008).