Lessons for the Living: Stories of Forgiveness, Gratitude, and Courage at the End of Life

Description

When Stan Goldberg was diagnosed with cancer, he was afraid and deeply saddened by his prognosis, as anyone in his situation would be. Unlike many, however, he chose to face his fear by helping others in the process of dying - he signed up as a hospice volunteer to be at the bedsides of people who are terminally ill. His experiences changed his view of death - and life - forever. In this book, Stan tells the stories of people he met in hospice. He shares their very ordinary experiences of facing fear and sadness and pain with all the bravery and love they could muster. The stories shine a light on the great capacity of the human spirit for beauty, insight, forgiveness, and gratitude. Stan shows how seemingly ordinary things, such as small acts of kindness, letting go of anger, and keeping things simple can have an extraordinary effect for someone who is dying - and how they offer lasting lessons for the living.

Stan Goldberg, PhD, is a speech pathologist and university professor at San Francisco State University. He is the author of six technical books in his field. He is also an experienced public speaker and has published articles, poems, and plays addressing end-of-life issues. His three-act play, Choices, won first place in the 2007 Festival of New Work at the Oxford International Institute for Documentary and Drama in Conflict Transformation. He lives with his wife in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was diagnosed with cancer several years ago, and after treatment and surgery, he became a hospice volunteer.

"Lessons for the Living is that rare self-help book that actually lives up to its title. Engaging and enlightening, but never pedantic, Goldberg imparts basic life lessons on the importance of giving, communicating, loving, and forgiving. It took a lethal disease and time spent as a hospice volunteer caring for persons he came to know and love for Goldberg to learn these important truths. Unfortunately, many other persons do not learn them until the end of life approaches, if at all. Readers of Lessons for the Living are fortunate that Goldberg has learned and lived these lessons and can share them so ably."-Sacramento Book Review "This is not a book to be taken lightly, nor one to be read to pass a summer's day. This is one to read in order to change how you plan on living out the rest of your days. . . . You don't have to be dying from cancer to find this book valuable. You just have to be dying from lack of life."-MyShelf.com "This book draws aside the veil of frightening taboos about death and dying. As Stan Goldberg faces his own cancer by comforting the terminally ill, his deeply personal journey is both an inspiration and a compassionate guide for others."-Louise Branson, editorial writer for USA Today "In this book, we learn what Stan Goldberg has learned about death's many gifts, and a plain truth: living is not about triumphing over death; it is about embracing it. Despite all our efforts to avoid it, there is wisdom in death that deepens our life."-Mark Trautwein, editor of KQED's Perspectives "Stan Goldberg's compassionate look at being present with those who are dying gives us a rare glimpse into lessons learned by being a witness to-and fully engaged participant in-the end of life. This encouraging book shares insightful awareness that the end of life presents opportunities for emotional and spiritual growth for all of us on life's journey."-Mary Jo Gediman, outreach director of public radio's This I Believe "The greatest wisdom in this world comes from children and adults who are facing their own deaths. Stan Goldberg shares his own experience of mortality and the wisdom he gained from hospice patients in this remarkable book. I recommend it for anyone who hopes for connection and joy in this life."-John Golenski, executive director, George Mark Children's Hospice "A wonderful, wise, and deeply personal book that brings you closer to the bone of life."-Joan Halifax, author of Being With Dying