Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — Three Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) ‘illuminate’’ Speaker Series presenters, Nora McInerny Purmort, Joan Halifax and Frank Ostaseski, were featured on Oprah Daily’s “The Best Books to Comfort a Grieving Friend.” HSB’s ‘illuminate’’ Speaker Series addresses the feelings of anxiety, grief and uncertainty that accompany a challenging time. ‘illuminate’’ speakers inspire, educate, encourage deeper inquiry and action, create community discussion, and help bring people closer together.
“Each author offers unique insight, wisdom and guidance about dealing with grief and challenging times,” said David Selberg, Hospice of Santa Barbara CEO. “Hospice of Santa Barbara is very fortunate to have them as part of our ‘illuminate’ Speaker Series line-up.”
Learn about each ‘illuminate’ speaker’s books below.
It’s Okay to Laugh, by Nora McInerny Purmort
Purmort’s memoir chronicles her experience miscarrying her second child, losing her father to cancer, and having her husband die in her arms within a span of a few months. Purmort offers a fresh perspective on grief and resilience, while sprinkling in humor and giving her readers permission to struggle and permission to laugh.
You can watch her ‘illuminate’ presentation, “Moving Forward” here.
Visit Purmort’s website: noraborealis.com
Being with Dying, by Roshi Joan Halifax
In her book, Halifax, uses her years of experience in caring for the dying to guide others through inspiring lessons on how to approach death with courage and compassion. A unique quality that Halifax offers is each chapter includes a meditation or practice. Halifax offers comfort and wisdom to those facing their own death or caring for someone who is dying.
You can watch her ‘illuminate’ presentation, “Integrity and Moral Resilience in a Time of Suffering” here.
Visit Halifax’s website: www.joanhalifax.org
The Five Invitations, by Frank Ostaseski
The Five Invitations offers five valuable lessons about how dying can teach us how to live a more fulfilling life. Cofounder of the Zen Hospice Project, Ostaseki has been with over a thousand people at the end of their lives. Ostaseki dives into how to use death and grief as an opportunity to emerge as something larger, as opposed to something smaller and restrictive.
You can watch his ‘illuminate’ presentation, “Grief – A Path To Wholeness” here.
Visit Ostaseki’s website: fiveinvitations.com
About ‘illuminate’ Speaker Series
Seen in 46 states and 58 countries, ‘illuminate’ Community Education and Engagement Series is a free virtual series of renowned speakers who address the feelings and questions that accompany challenging times. Presentations inspire, educate, encourage deeper inquiry and action, create community discussion, and help bring people closer together. All ‘illuminate’ presentations can be found on Hospice of Santa Barbara’s YouTube page.
Hospice of Santa Barbara
Hospice of Santa Barbara provides professional counseling, support groups, and patient care services free of charge to individuals and families who are grieving the death of a loved one or experiencing the impact of a life-threatening illness. Hospice of Santa Barbara also provides counseling in our offices and on fifteen local junior and high school campuses to children and teens who are grieving the loss of a loved one. For more information about Hospice of Santa Barbara, including volunteer opportunities, call (805) 563-8820 or visit www.hospiceofsantabarbara.org.