Compassionate Journeys

Lessons from My Work with the Dying

De: G. Jay Westbrook

Narrado por: G. Jay Westbrook

In this amazing work, Westbrook generously shares with us the tools he has used and created over the last 30 years to bring comfort - physical, spiritual, emotional, and intellectual - to the dying, the families of the dying, and their professional and lay caregivers.

Using the narrative style of Native Americans, Westbrook role-models his tools through a series of powerful, poignant, and moving stand-alone stories which illustrate precisely how to journey and navigate some of the most difficult end-of-life situations, and to do so with grace, equanimity, and deep partnership.

Whether those dying are young or old, male or female, sober or loaded, sheltered or homeless, alone or surrounded, appreciative or combative, terrified or curious, rich or poor, or any other pairings you can imagine, this book engages the reader in ways to quickly establish trust and rapport and to then use humor, curiosity, reframing, and other tools to challenge, support, and co-journey with patients and families in ways that are transformative.

The beauty of this book is that each brief chapter is a stand-alone teaching tool that can be used independently of the rest of the book. It can be used as a supplementary text for students, and in continuing education workshops for professionals. It can be used by the dying themselves and/or by their families. It can be read in quiet contemplation, or aloud as a stimulus for conversations of depth and weight and of hope and transformation.

The power of this book and its tools lies in its role-modeling of how to simply use our humanity - our suffering, vulnerability, courage, humor, compassion, passion, curiosity, honor, love, and imperfection to create deep and lasting connection as we co-journey toward the end-of-life.

©2019 G. Jay Westbrook (P)2021 G. Jay Westbrook

This is a must read for living!

In dying we learn so much about living and living compassionately and purposefully. Everyone should read sweet and spiritual memoir. Thank you for putting this in the world Jay.
I hope you publish more books.

Amazing story telling that inspires

The style used to write the book was very engaging to my ADHD brain, and the stories were very well narrated and engaging. Every story was honest, at times raw, and powerful.

I was impressed by how the author use the traumas of his past as a power to grow and help others, whether it’s working with the dying or someone struggling with addiction.

As I listened to each chapter of the book, I kept hearing parts of St. Francis Prayer roll through my mind. G. Jay Westbrook seems to live that prayer. I decided to reread the book to pay special attention to the way the he thinks and frames his language of love as he helps people.

The stories he shares of the people who were faced with death, as well as the loved ones who must navigate that reality as well show that each person is different and there should be an unconditional love when helping those faced with such uncertainty. He is a beacon for everyone in those situations.

I love that he includes stories of his own struggles and traumas as well as his beloved Nancy and how they were able to overcome so much and grow together. He includes his love story with her and the loss of his love. Many of his personal stories are shocking and sad but he is living proof that no matter what the road looks like in the past, it can lead to something much more beautiful.

This book includes many stories that will make you laugh, cry and feel inspired. We can learn so much about life by the stories of the dying.

Exquisite. Breathtaking. Beautiful.

This audiobook, exquisitely and soulfully written and narrated, has helped me immeasurably while caring for my mom who has Parkinson’s. I had a massive amount of fear and pain regarding my mom’s illness, my own aging process and fear of her dying....fear of me ever becoming sick as well (watching her...) and Jay held my hand through it and helped my find serenity. I am so grateful for this audiobook, it changed my life.