Most of us, until someone close to us is in the final weeks of life, don’t really understand the process the body, mind, and spirit goes through as life edges to a close. So many important things are happening as your loved one prepares to die.

There is both a “letting go” and an “arriving.”

Our loved ones could be letting go of

• Concern and connections with the outer world
• The need to control outcomes for themselves and others
• The idea of themselves as active players in the world around them
• Old ideas and expectations that no longer matter
• Goals that once seemed important but now feel unrealistic
• Activities that no longer have meaning

At the same time, our loved ones might be experiencing a sweet sense of arriving as

• A deep sense of love for self and all of life
• A deeper, transcendent love for others
• A feeling of completion from all that’s happened in life
• A sense of acceptance
• A feeling of accomplishment for all his or she was able to do
• A heightened awareness of the blessings in life
• A greater appreciation for kindness and connection
• A clear sense of life’s meaning
• A peace in recognizing his or her legacy
• A sense of ease and freedom from everyday wants and goals