"Thank you once again for making a sad day so much better"...
Just a simple post to say a big thank you to Christina, Andrew and Lizzie for the lovely thank you card. I'm so pleased that the ceremony felt right. I remember our first conversation, sitting in the kitchen and talking through your father's life - so many stories and memories - he was such an interesting man. I just wanted to send my very best wishes to you all for the future. Thank you.
I was asked today how I cope with all the sadness of being a celebrant. Its been an incredibly tough fortnight, with some challenging farewells and life stores to navigate, but overall, each has contained much love and inspiration. So the flippant answer is that most of the time I can cope, on the bad days there is coffee and walnut cake and on the very bad days there is shiraz... In all seriousness - and I hope this doesn't sound too 'worthy' - being a celebrant does show me every day that however tough my life is, someone else has it ten times worse. Today the sun is shining, the apple blossom is out, I had a free coffee at the garden centre... I had a long conversation with a funeral director whose compassion and kindness is so inspiring. Today's ceremony was incredibly moving - so many tears for a much loved person - but even in the midst of such sadness life has much to offer. I was going to start this blog with "Count your blessings", but its not for me to tell you how to live your life. But counting my blessing is what I've been doing today.
Andrew Jackson is an independent celebrant, helping families in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.
This post has far more to do with life than death. It is about achieving potential and having the power to dream. I have a rather wonderful niece and the conversations are turning towards which secondary (i.e. senior) school will suit her best (no, this isn't a school's question, bear with...). She loves reading, has an incredible imagination and an independence of spirit all of which is quite inspiring. So, as a throw away comment over dinner, I said that I would love to buy her three books to give her on the first day of senior school that would inspire her to greatness - or at least encourage her to do her best! One that came to mind was Caitlin Moran's "How to be a woman" (to quote: "Its a good time to be a woman: we have the vote and the Pill and we haven't been burnt as witches since 1727..."). JK Rowling would be another (since all Harry Potter books have already been read, revised and all facts mentally filed away! JKR is a huge role model already). Not sure of the third. I feel it should be - for the purposes of this exercise - a female author. Any suggestions?
NB: As always photo bears no connection to the words - I visited Lyme Regis recently and this caught my eye...
I'm always amazed that in the midst of such grief and sadness, families find time and energy to write the most lovely 'thank you' messages. Generally, I don't share these on the blog, but it was pointed out to me recently that for some families using a celebrant, rather than the more traditional option of a church minister, can be something of a leap of faith. So reading some feedback from other families may help reassure people that a celebrant-led ceremony will be perfect for their loved one. Over the coming months, I'll share a small selection of comments, starting with these lovely words...
"Everyone thought the ceremony was amazing and you really captured the spirit of my dad's life. Some people there even thought you were an old friend of my dad's as you made it so perfectly personal...thank you."
It is lovely to receive such feedback.
Andrew Jackson is an Independent funeral celebrant, available for ceremonies in Bristol, Bath and the surrounding area.
