My greatest teachers have been patients facing life and death with courage and dignity, and even in their moments of greatest pain, reflecting profound wisdom and beautiful humanity. In no particular order, here are some life lessons I’ve learned from people living through the worst days of their life:

1) A serious dose of Reality changes Every. Single. Thing—Nobody likes change, and when it’s not on our terms, it’s called Trauma.

2) During a health-crisis, people show their true colors—some relationships are strengthened while others fall apart, or disappear completely. It’s a blessing and a curse, but when it’s all said and done, your experience is going to put you in a whole new solar system, and you’re going to out-grow anyone who can’t handle the Real Tough stuff.

3) When a body gets sick, it has a way of bringing up and magnifying everything that’s in you, especially the things you’ve spent time and energy trying to forget or ignore. Get ready for history to repeat itself, for better and worse, the good, the bad, and the ugly…

4) Time passes differently for those on a health journey, and you may start seeing the world through new eyes; the old rules don’t apply anymore, and you might notice a new felt-sense emerge, with uncomfortable inexplicable sensitivities or intuitions that are often misunderstood or labeled as “a crazy over-reaction” or “all in your head”. Be assured, YOU are not crazy. You’ve never been more sane…

5) Miracles and magic are not reserved for the fantasy world—in fact, some of us know just how thin the veil really is…

6) Uncertainty and uneasiness—along with anxiety, frustration, and sadness, the so-called “negative emotions”—may become a regular part of your inner-dialogue, and will certainly change the conversation with others. Don’t go silent, just because you think nobody wants to hear it. It takes strength and courage to address the things that everyone is thinking but nobody wants to acknowledge.

7) Healing is not about eradicating disease: it’s about finding balance and perspective on the things that are causing your pain. Even when the physical body is dying, a mind and spirit can be putting all the pieces together in a way those of us who are “grounded” cannot begin fathom.

8) It’s ironic that “fighting” is not always the strongest stance. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we become more powerful than we ever could have possibly imagined. People who give-in are much more likely to heal than those who are vigilant and tireless in the fight.

9) What many people refer to as “negative” thoughts or emotions, are really just lower vibrations on the energy spectrum. Facing mortality can make us more sensitive to those vibrations in ourselves, and sometimes in others.

10) No matter what you may believe about “life after death,” relationships do not end when a body dies… it just changes the way we communicate with them—like learning a new love-language. Often in life, the deepest love and the deepest pain are connected…