In this episode of the EZ Conversations podcast, I welcome Kim Harms, who shares her profound experiences dealing with loss and grief. Kim, a former dentist and the first woman president of the Minnesota Dental Association, speaks candidly about losing her son and mother to suicide, and her husband to heart failure. Despite these tragedies, Kim has found peace and acceptance, which she attributes to contemplating her mortality. She discusses the importance of preparing for death, building a meaningful legacy, and managing grief. Kim offers practical advice on the importance of mental health, addressing family dynamics, and the value of creating a supportive community. This episode provides listeners with insightful reflections on life, purpose, and how to find joy despite significant loss.
Dr. Kimberly Harms has been around the block in life. She has served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Public Health Service, a dental school professor, a grief counsellor, a death doula, a civil mediator, a clinical dentist with her late husband Jim in Farmington MN, a school board Chair, President of an international women’s organization, the first woman President of the Minnesota Dental Association, a National Spokesperson for the American Dental Association (21 years), an award-winning, best selling author and international speaker on the topics of grief, conflict and legacy planning. She has also suffered many personal losses, including the deaths by suicide of her mother and son and the death by the broken heart of her husband after their son’s death. Her most important role now is mother to her two surviving children and grandmother to 6 precious grandchildren.
03:05 Introduction and Personal Reflections
04:05 Guest's Background and Personal Losses
06:59 Coping with the Loss of a Child
12:09 Mental Health and Family History
17:22 Grieving Differently and Marital Resilience
20:52 Facing Widowhood and Finding Support
24:13 Professional Pivot and Finding Purpose
24:53 From Dentistry to Legacy Building
25:36 The Importance of Legacy Planning
26:22 Changing Perspectives on Death
27:35 Building Positive Legacies
28:42 The Value of Relationships
29:47 Personal Reflections on Legacy
36:42 Practical Tips for End-of-Life Planning
42:13 Facing Death with Faith and Humor
46:21 Concluding Thoughts and Resources
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