Blog | The Good Death Institute

Ignatius of Loyola on Gratitude

by Peggy Flynn | Nov 30, 2022 | Aging, All

It is important to have a day dedicated to saying Thank You. Of course, as with Mother’s Day, the project can devolve into a commercial, saccharine mockery. My inbox is full of Thanksgiving reflections–many of which are profound, others not so much. Is there...

What Comes After #2

by Peggy Flynn | Oct 31, 2022 | Aging, All, Dying and Dealth

Tis the Season! No, not that season, although I am sure that we will be inundated with Christmas Holiday stuff soon. But this coming week, we are invited to pay special attention to our dead. Summer is ended. The harvest is in. The days grow shorter and shorter. The...

Spiritual Director – How did I get here? – Another Leg of the Journey

by Peggy Flynn | Sep 30, 2022 | All, Spiritual Direction

Another leg of the journey to this current adventure called spiritual direction has been decades of going to school in the land of compassion. Exploration. Acculturation. Learning the language and behaviors. Willingly going native. (according to Merriam Webster: to...

Spiritual Director – How Did I Get Here? – One Leg of the Journey

by Peggy Flynn | Aug 30, 2022 | All, Spiritual Direction

One of my mentors in this adventure called spiritual direction described three essential elements in the unfolding director-directee relationship: educator, accompanier, and witness (thank you, MM). I have continually focused on my responsibility to keep widening and...

Hey, Coach!

by Peggy Flynn | Jul 31, 2022 | All

I just came home from an amazing meeting! What made it amazing? Well, the main factor was the person with whom I was meeting—my consultant/coach/cheerleader/expert on all-things-marketing and internet—Anita AC Clinton. Four years ago she signed on to...

Thinking About Dreams in the Second Half of Life – Part 2

by Peggy Flynn | Jul 15, 2022 | All

I was curious about other work being done on death and dreams. A colleague mentioned Michael Kearney MD, a palliative care specialist in Santa Barbara, California. Dr. Kearney is the author of Mortally Wounded, Stories of Soul Pain, Death and Healing (1996); and A...

Thinking About Dreams in the Second Half of Life – Part 1

by Peggy Flynn | Jul 1, 2022 | All

Recent Blog Posts I was flailing around for a topic about which to write. This program has provided a cornucopia of ideas and questions to pursue. I need to focus! How to choose? Archetypes? The Shadow? The Self? One idea came from James Hillman in his book: ...

When We Can’t Find the Words—But Need Words

by Peggy Flynn | Jun 30, 2022 | All, Spiritual Direction, Studies

Thank you, especially to Gregory Bateson and Milton Erickson for one of the insights that changed my life—language shapes perception. How we talk about something or someone creates the context for discovering and relating to it’s mystery. The reality of...

Habits of Highly Connected Seniors #1 – Social Competence

by Peggy Flynn | May 27, 2022 | All

I recently attended a symposium that addressed social isolation and loneliness in the lives of seniors, especially during the Covid pandemic. The various presentations brought to mind my years of home visits and consults with individuals and families. Then and now I...

Etiquette in Times of Trouble

by Peggy Flynn | May 12, 2022 | All

My friend has cancer— what do I say? My sister’s husband just died— what can I do? My neighbor has to go for a serious operation— is there anything I can do? My nephew is dealing with serious mental illness— I’d like to be there for him and the...