Spring Newsletter 2026
New Year in the Neighborhood
Yes, a new year. Not because I despise the calendar/January 1st new year fuss (a tad maybe), but because I don’t feel it quite resonates with me. In January, in the northern hemisphere where I live, it’s still winter and nature is still in hibernation mode. How is that new year-sy? To me, not much. Yes, I am a little ‘woo’ and I like connecting to nature; when it goes through its renewal phase, I celebrate this as my new year versus the Jan. 1st hullabaloo.
While I am a little sad that temperatures are warming up (I just hate being too hot), I love seeing and hearing nature wake up from the somber that was their winter. We have the magnolia trees (pictured above), here in Germany and when they bloom, they are so stunning. The cherry blossoms too, really, everything is so pretty. The birds’ songs are some of my fave concerts too. All this makes you feel nature is waking up and ready to show how alive it is; there is new life in this spring season.
Springtime Solace
With new year stuff, often comes new plans, goals or whatever. I will not be addressing this stuff in the typical way though. I have always been about improving myself and I am supportive of you if this is what you want for yourself. Having gone through my health challenges and other life stuff though, I am now less concerned with making myself better every day and am more interested in being genuine to who I am. This isn’t groundbreaking at all I know, but I lived so much for other people for so long, I have officially resigned from that position and am doing things differently.
Of course, we all have ways in which we can improve. I still want to improve how I show up in this world and do my part to make sure I leave it better when I die. There is so much suffering and more happening in this world, so I am really sensitive to this; I do what I can do within my capacity to change it.
Other than this though, I have released the pressure to stick to so many of the cultural narratives that tell us how to do things. So, I will be in my corner, doing things that are true to me, and I would love to invite you to do the same. Besides, being true to you/being you, is one of the coolest things you can do. You literally are the only you ever - so you’re a big deal.
Great, now what does this have to do with dying better? A bunch, babe. How we live has a lot to do with how we die. Becoming more authentic to you will lead you into other venues of your life. Whether it is healing something you ignored for a long time, reprioritizing how you live your life, rethinking everything or not.
Whatever it is, if it’s truest to you, you will live your life better. If you live your life better, your death will be better. Why? I have seen what happens when we don’t deal with/come to terms with and/or address what’s important to us as humans. We hang onto stuff in our bodies and it comes back when our bodies are weaking and dying; the dying body no longer has the resources to hold the sh** down, so it comes up and shows up with agitation, pain and/or spiritual distress (to give only some examples). So yea, how we live, will def impact how we die. And don’t just do this to die better, but to live better until you get there.
And what better time to dedicate to yourself and what’s truest to you, than in this time of rebirth which can be your time of renaissance and revival of the true you. Ooh this is gonna be so cool; you get to rebirth, rethink or just stay the same. This is all up to you and what fits truest and best for you and sometimes, it may be staying the same. It may not be time for a change at this time, especially if you’re sorting out what is most authentic to you. I am wishing you a whole load of love as you connect with what’s important to you right now.
In Case You Need Some Reading Material
Everybody’s Doing It, So Let’s Die Better - my new(ish) book, a 31-day companion for caregivers facing the final chapter with their loved one, is available.
You can find it at diebetterbook.com.
It has received wonderful reviews and feedback - and if you gave it a read and have a minute, I (and Auntie D too), would be really appreciative if you left an Amazon review.
Dead Famous
“Death is the dropping of the flower that the fruit may swell." Henry Ward Beecher
So yea, happy spring, babe.
Love, Abigail