On Living: Dancing More, Working Less and Other Last Thoughts

What are the top regrets of the dying? That's what Kerry Egan, a hospice chaplain, learned as she listened to her patients on their deathbeds, witnessing what she calls the 'spiritual work of dying' - the work of finding or making meaning of one's life, the experiences it contained and the people who have touched it. In this book she recalls the stories she heard - stories of hope and regret, shame and pride, mystery and revelation, and secrets held too long. This isn't a book about dying - it's a book about living. Each of Egan's patients taught her something; in this moving and beautiful book, she imparts their poignant and profound lessons on how to live a life without regrets.

About the Author :
Kerry Egan is a hospice chaplain and a graduate of Harvard Divinity School. She is the author of a memoir, Fumbling- A Journey of Love, Adventure and Renewal on the Camino de Santiago and has published essays in many national print and online publications, including Parents, American Baby, Reader's Digest, and CNN. She and her family live in Columbia, South Carolina.

Review :
A brave and uplifting meditation on how important it is to make peace and meaning of our lives while we still have them Illuminating, unflinching and ultimately inspiring, [On Living] presents "the spiritual work of dying" as a profound process with undeniable elements of beauty. A book to treasure. As the title suggests, this is not just a book about dying. It's one that will inspire readers to make the most of every day. Powerful...in this quick read, Egan takes readers on an emotional journey through many unforgettable lives [Egan's] anecdotes are often thought-provoking combinations of sublime humor and tragic pathos... A moving, heartfelt account of a hospice veteran Egan... works as a hospice chaplain, supporting the spirits of those who are dying. In this book, she compassionately describes and distills what she has learned in their service When I forget the importance of kindness, when I forget to listen, when I no longer recognize the comfort of a quiet presence, when no words will help, when I lose sight of what is most important, I will want On Living within arm's reach, always. I love this book Equal parts memoir and meditative text on the nature of life - and the many faces of faith -....this beautiful book will speak to parts of your heart that you didn't even realize were hurting. What's more: It might help heal them I know from experience what a blessing hospice can be for patients and their families. Kerry Egan's insightful book is a blessing as well. A born storyteller, she allows us a glimpse into a little-known world, where ordinary people face death with wit, humor, sadness, and regret. Egan reveals that the job of a chaplain is mostly to listen to them as they work out how to set things right with those they love, and find meaning in their lives It's a brave thing to walk into the rooms of the dying with no props--to sit down, open your heart and your mind, and be present to whatever comes up. But that's exactly what chaplain Kerry Egan does, and in On Living, she reveals some of what she has learned. What does come up? Anger, love, regret, secrets, stories, and insights, well-told and well-felt Thoughtful and refreshingly unpretentious . . . [Egan's] insights continue to resonate for days after you've finished reading Funny, honest, and self-deprecating... On Living adds to the understanding of end-of-life issues in an important and accessible way... If there is one thing death teaches us, it's how to live.