Over the weekend, one of my beautiful Senior for Caregivers, Yoga Participants lost her soul-mate and love of over 60 years.

It hit our class hard this week – there were tears and love being sent her way as we all felt her pain hanging in the room.

I can honestly say that I’ve never felt more inadequate in my life. As I taught the yoga class it became heavy on my heart that we needed to offer a loving kindness mediation.  We ended the class with this, hoping to envelop her in our love and care, from a distance.

I wish I could describe to you the energy of the room.

It was poignant and beautiful and heavy and sad all at the same time. I had the most wonderful sense of Peace, knowing that this is my work and that this is where I need to be.

Throughout the class, I kept a silent mantra “Use me, Show me, Guide me” as I lead these people through this grief.

Each of them has a loved one who shares this horrible, life altering disease (Alzheimers). I know that they were all in her shoes for that hour at least. You could almost read the thought bubbles over their heads, sending love to her but also wondering- “when will it be me? How much longer do I have with my loved one?”

Like I said, poignant, heavy, and as real as it gets.

At the funeral, the priest spoke about the Love of a Lifetime. I was honoured to hear some of their story.  To just think what a love like that can do. I sat back and watched 4 children, 7 grandchildren (4 with spouses) and several nieces and nephews honour this man. Every person who told a story of James told of a man who put his family above all else. Therefore, we were surrounded by his love, his memory, and his legacy.

For me, the connection goes a bit deeper than that of a yoga teacher.  My daughter’s love is this man’s grandson.  It gives me hope and joy, knowing that he has such an example to follow.  An example of a man who loved fully and who taught his children and their children to do the same.  I know that my Emily is in good hands and for this I am grateful.

I aspire to leave such a legacy.