In this episode, we're joined by Ariell Kirylo, a dear friend of mine for over two decades. She recently reached out to me after a year of supporting her friend Stephen, who tragically passed away at the age of 51 due to a sudden brain tumor. Ariell wanted to share her experiences and insights from this journey.
Many of us find it challenging to navigate end-of-life situations because it's often kept distant, hidden away in sterile hospital environments. Ariell's story is an inspiring example of how to show up and provide meaningful support to someone in their final moments.
Ariell noticed that various people around Stephen played different roles in his journey. Some were the "doers," meticulously organizing everything and tying up loose ends. Others were the "fighters," never giving up hope for a miraculous recovery. However, Ariell chose a different path. She created a safe space for Stephen to explore his thoughts and feelings, allowing him to travel in his mind and spirit to the other side while still on Earth.
This approach involved surrendering to the inevitability of death, something our modern society struggles with.
Ariell's story reveals her own journey towards surrendering, which began with a near-death experience when a tree fell on her car in September 2021.
Her perspective shifted as she contemplated death from both sides, realizing that death could be seen as a transition, a birth into another form of consciousness or an afterlife. This reframing of death can help us change our conversation and perception of it.
I asked Ariell how this experience transformed her. She shared that it deepened her understanding of intimacy and the acceptance of her own eventual passing. Watching Stephen's graceful departure, despite his moments of frustration and fear, showed her the beauty in facing death with grace and mastery.
Ariell encouraged us all to be present and unafraid when witnessing death, as there are valuable lessons to be learned. By embracing these lessons, we can wear them like pearls and prepare ourselves for our own inevitable journey.
Ariell invites us to view death as a beautiful and spiritual transition, guided by our faith and inner beliefs. This shift in perspective can help us confront the concept of death with a sense of wonder and acceptance.
You can see some of Stephen’s teachings from the end of his life in his Instagram https://instagram.com/fuzzymu
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