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You might be languishing. Are you feeling stuck or motionless? Wishing for something to inspire you again? Empty and lacking focus? We're more than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and many of us are just beginning to discover how significantly our lives, and the rhythm of life in our communities, have been impacted. There's no 'going back' to the way things were.
I got my second dose of the vaccine at the beginning of April and I'm discovering that even though I'm fully vaccinated now...I'm still not 'going back' to the way things were before the pandemic—even though that's now an option. I have't jumped on an airplane yet or sought out a packed restaurant experience. I guess I'm not quite ready? I haven't figured it out yet.
That's because I've changed. Because you've changed. This article about languishing really hit home.
If you are languishing, try treating it like I treat my grief and keep it moving. See where it takes you. Ask it what it needs. Meet yourself where you are (not where you were a year ago).
Whether you're languishing through life or not, thanks for being a part of the School. You all are a bright, joyful spot in my life and keep me moving through it all.
Cole Imperi
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Our Newest Course Starts Monday, May 10!
If you've ever wanted to improve your writing skills, or just make the time to actually sit down and write...this is your chance! This special course brings together a group of people interested in exploring death and spirituality through writing, while under the guidance of an expert. This course features live lectures on Tuesday evenings from 7–9pm Eastern which include active writing time, in conjunction with a robust course interface. You'll learn writing techniques, read writing examples and receive feedback and review from Suzette. More details and registration here. Payment plans are available. No prerequisites. All experience and skill levels are welcome.
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Meet Suzette
Suzette Martinez Standring is teaching our newest course Writing: Death & Spirituality! She is the award-winning author of The Art of Column Writing and The Art of Opinion Writing and is a nationally syndicated spirituality columnist. Suzette hosts It’s All Write With Suzette, a cable TV show about authors and their works. Visit her website to learn more about her. Welcome to the School of American Thanatology, Suzette!
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What Our Alumni Are Up To
[Each month, we will spotlight a graduate and share what they're up to. If you'd like to be included, just reply to this email!]
Meet MK Battles (she/her), Session 2 DCCCC Graduate
Hi, I’m Mary Kate (she/her), but most of my clients and friends call me MK. I’ve been a professional photographer for 17 years. I've photographed a little bit of everything over the years, but my focus is now corporate and lifestyle work. As a storyteller, I love being able to share the narrative of a business or family. And sometimes that story involves hospice, funerals and memorials. Funeral photography is not for every family or situation, but I believe for many, it can be a beautiful way of remembering and honoring someone who is very important to you. Of all the types of work I engage in as a full-time professional photographer, there is no greater honor than to serve a family in their time of need and grieving.
The Death Companioning Course helped me to take things I had already been doing (hospice, memorial, and funeral photography) and put it forward-facing on my website. I worried that telling these types of stories would be off-putting, but in reality I have received such a warm response. I’m really proud of the work I do and the service I can provide to families during a difficult time.
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Monthly Continuing Education
Each issue, we'll share a few articles that have already been read and reviewed by our team. As Death Educators, we want to support you by providing information you can easily share with your own audiences and learn from yourselves. (Have an article or item we should review for a future issue? Just reply to this email.)
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Logistics, Ethics, and Right to Die
The author of this article discusses the issue of doctors and the medical system functioning as gatekeepers.
Food for thought: How do we, as deathworkers bridge the gap between the medical system and individuals and their loved ones to address existential, emotional, spiritual, and physical pain associated with death and dying?
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This month's Continuing Education section has been sourced and reviewed by Oliver Markowitz (they/them) of Cincinnati, Ohio and a Session 4 Death Companioning Community Crash Course graduate. They lead a thanatologically guided media club which you can get more info about on the school Slack.
If you have a submission for this section, we'd love to include it! Please reply to this email or send to layla@americanthanatology.com.
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Join Cole Each Week For Teacher Time
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This weekly time (every Thursday at 3pm Eastern) is available for free to students and alumni! The link to join is in Slack here. Please come! This is your community.
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Case reviews are Coming...Are you interested?
The School of American Thanatology will begin hosting regular case reviews. This is a professional space where 1-2 deathworkers will present a case (a vignette of your personal or professional deathwork) to your peers who will ask you clarifying questions, share their insight and offer support. This is a form of professional accountability and a development opportunity. Each session will include a short skill-based training applicable to deathwork. Please fill out this form to indicate your interest in presenting and/or participating.
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What's New at the School
UPCOMING COURSES
A new course housed under our Thanatology track starts Monday, May 10 and runs through June 25. Writing: Death & Spirituality features live lectures each Tuesday evening. Payment plans are available. More information and enrollment here.
DEATHWORK PINS
Enamel pins featuring the symbol for deathwork will be available the third week of May. Keep an eye on the Bookstore. The pins feature silver metal and lilac enamel, representing the 'lilac days' of loss.
CONGRATS TO GRADUATES OF SESSION 10 OF THE DCCCC
Congratulations to graduates of our 10th (and final) round of the Death Companioning Community Crash Course!
GRIEF BUTTONS
Grief buttons will be back in stock the third week of May.
BRANDING
We've been working with an identity and design studio to finish developing out the brand of the school. (There will be no changes to the logo or school seal!) It's important that the experience of being a part of the school matches the visual look and feel. In April, about 20 students participated in a branding workshop to share feedback directly with the designer. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your feedback has truly been prioritized and highlighted. If future workshops come up, they will be posted in Slack (this one happened between newsletters).
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