Lisa J. Shultz Quotes

#1. As I inch forward to embrace my life again by being mindful, writing books, and planning adventures, I sense my dad would approve. I know he would want me to be happy.

Lisa J. Shultz

#2. I am not knocking advances that provide a healthier life and alleviate suffering or unnecessary premature death. I am advocating inclusion of education on end-of-life matters and the promotion of understanding, conversation, and planning.

Lisa J. Shultz

#3. It behooves me to remember as I advance in age that death is an inevitable part of the life cycle rather than a medical failure.

Lisa J. Shultz

#4. My dad's life was magnificent, but only if I let myself see and remember more than his years of decline.

Lisa J. Shultz

#5. Did my dad fool the medical professionals or were we involved with a system that avoided end-of-life discussions? Those conversations might have given my dad the opportunity to focus on last wishes, meaningful conversations, and clarify his needs.

Lisa J. Shultz

#6. The window of opportunity to plan and prepare for the end of his life had closed gradually. Any cracks left open to talk candidly were tenuous and fleeting.

Lisa J. Shultz

#7. A paradigm shift of viewing palliative care or hospice as a gift instead of seeing it as giving up has the potential to change the way we experience advanced age.

Lisa J. Shultz

#8. I now urge friends and acquaintances to have conversations with their aging parents and within their families while their parents are still relatively healthy and of sound mind.

Lisa J. Shultz

#9. By seizing every opportunity for kindness, forgiveness, healing, and love that crosses my path each day, I hope that my death, although perhaps sad for some, will be gracefully concluded.

Lisa J. Shultz

#10. Grief is part of my human experience. There will always be loss during my lifetime. Loss has come in a variety of forms to me - such as death, divorce, losing a job, and selling a beloved home. Each event brought me new opportunities and experiences that would not have been possible otherwise.

Lisa J. Shultz

#11. As I enlarged my vision to see the bigger picture of my dad's full life, I was better able to let go of being stuck in memories of its end.

Lisa J. Shultz

#12. I believe it's imperative to bring the light of support and knowledge to patients and families when death is approaching.

Lisa J. Shultz

#13. When I contemplate life as well as death, I am discovering what really matters to me now.

Lisa J. Shultz

#14. By acknowledging my impermanence, I can consider if there is anything I can do now to help my loved ones who will be left behind cope with losing me and to facilitate healing.

Lisa J. Shultz

#15. I believe one of the most important reasons I am here today is to practice forgiveness and to learn the power of it as a gift to others and myself. By focusing on forgiveness in my life today, I am promoting my healing and lessening my regrets.

Lisa J. Shultz

#16. Without guidance and support for patients and families approaching death, there may be unnecessary conflict, confusion, and trauma that linger long after the passing of a loved one.

Lisa J. Shultz

#17. Surrendering to the best of my abilities when the price of life has outweighed its benefit may be a compassionate choice for me and those around me.

Lisa J. Shultz

#18. I felt myself in a sticky spot as a daughter and desperately needed a third party, such as a doctor, to address his declining function and end-of-life considerations of safety, comfort, and care management.

Lisa J. Shultz

#19. I am certain that I'm not the only one who would like to have a do-over on an interaction with a loved one.

Lisa J. Shultz

#20. If the push towards life sustaining technology were balanced with options for comfort care in both medical school training and the healthcare culture, more people would have the chance to transition to death with dignity and grace.

Lisa J. Shultz

#21. What would I have wanted to say if I had had the opportunity to see him one more time? I would like to think that I would have kept it simple and said, "I love you," then just held his hand in silence, letting that thought linger in the space of the time we had left together.

Lisa J. Shultz

#22. The shift from thinking that I must feel forgiveness to the practice of repetitive giving forgiveness has helped me in my healing journey.

Lisa J. Shultz