SOULful Transitions

01/26/2026

Over the course of a lifetime, we face only a few moments where the decisions we make and the actions we take will shape our history for years to come. This is one of them.

07/30/2025

Say their name. Always. 🖤

I think about all the moments that made you who you were, and I want to say your name out loud, to make sure you do not disappear. There is a part of me that feels like if I stop talking about you, the world will forget you. I cannot let that happen.
I do not care if people get uncomfortable or if they do not know what to say back. You deserve to be remembered.
The world does not make this easy. People stop asking about how I am without you. They stop bringing up your name because they think it will hurt me, as if I am not already hurting. They do not see that hearing your name, telling your stories, is what keeps me connected to you.
You were real. You still are. You lived, you mattered, and you are still the center of so much of my life.
There are days I talk about you with tears in my eyes, and days I can laugh when I remember something you said or did. I know people might look at me and think I am stuck in the past, but this is not living in the past. It is about holding on to you. Telling your story is what I can do now, and I will keep doing it as long as I live.
If you find yourself wanting to say their name or share their story, do it. Let people hear it. Let them know your person still matters, even if the rest of the world has moved on. There is no expiration date on love or on the stories of the ones we carry.

06/20/2025

Awesomeness

She wanted to bring them joy one more time.

08/08/2024

Thanks so much to my friend and colleague Mila Martin for this excellent article regarding ...... Why use a professional Celebrant?

I wrote the following because so many people think that "Uncle Joe" or "Cousin Sue" will do a great job as their officiant...
Can Anyone Officiate at a Wedding?

MY FRIEND WILL MARRY US Because it looks so easy, hey, anyone can do it, right? Well no, when the rubber hits the road, it's terrifying for many.

Don't pick a family member OR pastors who don't really do this very often; because they can be just as nervous and inarticulate as a family member.

Please don't put professional officiants in this category. This is what professional officiants do; that's why we're good at it, and that's why we charge for what we do. We make a living doing this; it's not a sideline. So, let's unpack this together.

"It'll be more personal because they know you." Maybe but they'll probably just go to the internet, copy a ceremony from some website and be happy to get through it without throwing up. OR they will attempt to make it personal by telling rambling stories about you that might or might not be appropriate.

They're legal in my state. Eh, maybe. But if there is a glitch in the license, do they know how to spot it before hand or fix it afterwards? Probably not. I know how to check questionable documents before it goes to the records office so the process is streamlined.

"They're great public speakers; they do corporate training" It's not just public speaking; it's orchestrating an arc of emotion and sentiment that is inspiring and meaningful to the couple, with empathy for their parents and relatives. It's not just a recitation; this is very, very specific work delivered to an emotionally charged audience, not a legal brief (no offense to lawyers; I could never do that.....)

With all due respect, while personal stories are a gorgeous addition to the ceremony IN THEIR PLACE, stories about when you were a baby do not belong in a ceremony. Even if it's a civil ceremony, it's still a sacred experience and it should be constructed that way, with specific things said to elicit specific emotions from the guests. Of course, we want them to be happy for you, but ideally, they are inspired by your story, renewed by talk of love and soulmates and they should leave thinking they know you better. And themselves better.

Hire a pro. Not just because I am one, but because it's a better idea. And don't forget, if you hire a great officiant, they can lead you to other great pros, they can work with your venue, they can put your processional together; they're like a mini wedding coordinator.

Your cousin probably isn’t this knowledgeable and would be much more comfortable being an honored guest at your wedding.

01/27/2024

Dear owners, this is what happens with your dog in his final moments. It's sad, so don't make the goodbye even sadder by leaving your dog alone.

01/27/2024

As hard as this is to read and contemplate...I urge you to read and understand this and feel it deep in your heart. Please.

Dear owners, this is what happens with your dog in his final moments. It's sad, so don't make the goodbye even sadder by leaving your dog alone.

11/03/2023

Interesting thoughts.

When You Die You Know You Are Dead, According to Scientists... Check the comments 👇👇

10/21/2023

Love this idea

In Connecticut and across the United States, ‘wind phones’ provide spaces for people to hold one-way conversations with their loved ones who’ve died.