A Conversation about Death & Dying

People are rarely willing to talk about death. It is a topic that goes largely ignored in our day-to-day lives.

On this show, Catie discusses her recent cancer diagnosis and all of the shifting perspectives that come along with that. She speaks specifically about the balance between grief and gratitude. Catie shares her experience of shifting her focus to her needs and asking for help, and the vulnerability that comes with it. Together we explore the conversation of having a support system and being able to express both hopeful and difficult emotions. Catie emphasizes the need for curiosity and self-reflection in navigating the challenges of illness and mortality. She encourages others to be gentle with themselves as they embrace the complexity of their feelings. The conversation highlights the power of open and honest communication in building meaningful connections and finding strength in vulnerability.

Catie is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia. She graduated from the School of Nursing. Although she is a nurse, she is an artist first. There was a time when you would have seen her on stage, as she loves acting. Catie is an Enneagram 4 wing 5. She is a profound listener, an intentional question-asker and a deep thinker. She cares so deeply about others and is always out to understand. Catie has mastered the art of curiosity!

Takeaways

• Being bold means being transparent, living your truth, and leaning into fear.
• Nursing is a demanding profession that requires both academic knowledge and the ability to connect with patients on a deep level.
• Facing a cancer diagnosis brings a shift in perspective and a heightened awareness of the balance between grief and gratitude.
• Having conversations about death and mortality is important, even though it can be uncomfortable.
• Acknowledging and asking for help is a vulnerable but necessary step in taking care of oneself. Having a support system is crucial when living with a cancer diagnosis.
• It is important to be able to express both hopeful and difficult emotions.
• Curiosity and self-reflection can help navigate the challenges of illness and mortality.
• Being gentle with oneself and embracing the complexity of feelings is essential.
• Open and honest communication builds meaningful connections and fosters strength in vulnerability.