A workshop called “Living Fully: Embracing Death” led by Myra Walden takes place at the Burning Bush Gallery in Wheaton on April 4th

One of the most difficult questions in life is about death. Nobody knows for sure, what happens when a person dies. For me it always was a scary and complicated thing. Each of us is a whole universe with our own inner world, emotions, dreams, wishes, hopes, achievements, attachments and plans. And I was never able to comprehend how that universe can just immediately disappear and dissolve like it never even existed.

I remember once, when I was five, my mother and grandmother were talking about something. I got interested in the topic of the conversation and asked: “When did it happen?” They answered: “You didn’t even exist at that time.” I remember asking them: “What do you mean I didn’t exist? How is it even possible?” Since then I keep asking myself questions about life, where we came from and where we will go after death.

When I found out about the workshop called “Living Fully: Embracing Death” that will take place at the Burning Bush gallery in Wheaton on April 4th at 7 p.m., I realized that finally, after many years, my questions might be answered.

The host of the event, Myra Walden, believes that this workshop will help people to come to the end of their lives aware and awake. Of course, you have to be psychologically ready to attend something like this, but if you are actually ready, then most likely this workshop will help transform your consciousness and live in greater harmony with your values.

It was interesting to find out that at this workshop the attendees will engage in powerful exercises to help them move from resistance and denial into increased serenity and freedom. So many of us need it! Besides total awareness of the fact that our life will certainly end, each of us goes through a lot of stress on a daily basis. Often times, we forget about purpose in life and why we came into this world. Many of us try to find answers in religion, and I am one of them. But isn’t it good sometimes to learn from sources that were created by human intelligence and research based on theory and practice? In my opinion, it is pretty interesting and also might be very beneficial.

The announcement of this event particularly underlines that at this workshop you will be able to recognize and release your attachments, even as you love someone or something wholeheartedly, increase clarity of what is most important to you, and develop a plan to live with greater meaning. The organizers of this event also notice that “coming to peace with death can be liberating. It can allow us to savor every day and experience gratitude for life, for loved ones, for nature and more.”

As I mentioned above, this topic seems very complicated to me. So, when I was getting ready to write this article, I decided to learn more about the host of the event, Myra Walden. I found out that Ms. Walden is an experienced psychologist working in the Institute for Empowering Communication located in West Chicago, Illinois. Myra holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a master's degree in clinical psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. I found out that she has practiced psychotherapy since 1991. Now, Ms. Walden is a certified trainer with the Center for Nonviolent Communication. She has taught Nonviolent Communication in social service organizations, corporations, schools and churches in the United States and Mexico since 2000.

Besides teaching, Myra personally knows how the techniques taught at the Institute for Empowering Communication can affect people’s lives. She believes that these methods and processes increase her sense of peace and freedom and bring greater harmony to her personal and professional relationships.

For those of you, who want to learn more about these techniques, Ms. Walden will host a workshop “Living Fully: Embracing Death” at the Burning Bush gallery for only $30. So, if you have free time on Friday, April 4th, please attend this beneficial event. It will last three hours, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Ms. Walden believes that you will leave it wholly renewed and empowered.

Maybe, not all of the questions related to death will be answered, but the workshop will help you to come in peace with death and also with life. The fear of death takes away the pleasures of life. As Myra Walden said, “I spend my time and energy living this life to the fullest: connecting with the Divine, giving and receiving love, serving others, walking in the forest, and savoring oranges, blueberries and bread.”

The Burning Bush gallery is located at 216 N. Main in Wheaton. Please, contact Tony Asta at 708-705-8669 or by sending him an email to tonyasta@ameritech.net, and Bill Austin at 630-336-3352 or email him at bau5142277@aol.com. They hope that this event will definitely help you to find peace in your heart.

Natalia Dagenhart Copyright