Personal Touch

If we learned anything in 2020, it is the fact that the importance and value of human touch are so vital to our physical and mental well-being.

The automation of working from home, zoom calls, and longer days with less time in between became the new norm to the point of exhaustion. We no longer had the commute to work and back home to release the day or let go of whatever was on our minds. Our days became filled with zoom school for our kids, quarantine, or isolation when someone had Covid19 followed by Covid19 tests and unfortunately dealing with the death of a loved one whose family we could not console.

As we stumbled on in 2020 things became clearer and clearer to me that people in the most traumatic moments still needed personal guidance and support. I know If I had to download one more app to get to what I needed I was going to scream. As we worked with families through the tough moments, it became increasingly clear, they simply needed the sound of a human voice telling them we had them covered. They were not alone.

Everyone comes to us from a different angle or point in a life transition, and no two clients needing help to have a direct line of answers to their questions. It really is a Concierge style of supporting them through these moments that we learn to welcome them into our LOLA family.

So, while our world got smaller through online apps, video, and live streaming, we learned that when you are dealing with a family who has a loved one that is going to transition or has passed away, there is no automation to the process of love and caring in those difficult moments.

When I lost my dad and then my husband 63 days apart, I used to say “if one more company sends me one more checklist or a link to go to an automated checklist, I will scream! What I need is a human, to tell me where to begin, how to take care of myself and, remind me they were there to help ME.”

Some days are harder than others, and in the last 12 months, I have heard grief expressed much differently than ever before. So many have been alone in their grief, unable to share with family members and friends because we were not allowed to gather outside of our homes. I have been honored to have those difficult conversations with families so they understand what is about to happen and how they can be as prepared as possible for one of the darkest times in their lives.

Simply put, there is no app or online system that can do what only a human being can do especially a human with a passion to care for perfect strangers. That is why we have such great Advocates and Trusted Partners, people who truly want to help and dive into the deep end and hold your hand.

We all still need the personal touch.

Don't Give up Now.

Don’t give up now.

As we enter into September, I can vividly see back in March when we first entered into COVID19 hibernation and pandemic when Dr. Fauci said, “we could be into this for months at least until August”…  AUGUST?!!!  My kids and I freaked! Good grief how will we ever make it? Toilet paper, paper towels, food limits, could we do this for the next 5 months?

As we entered into May, we had conflicting messages ~ it’s ok to go out, don’t wear a mask, wear a mask, open up restaurants and bars, shut them down, go back to work, go home.  Need I go on?

In our sweet Texas town of San Antonio, so blessed with many people who are friendly and love our Mexican food, (mainly tacos) we started the summer with Memorial Day. Families gathered, friends got together, and graduations began like none other before. New ways of celebrating life’s most important moments were captured on social media. I have to hand it to families with high schoolers graduating, they made some really cool moments.

 In late June, our numbers of those infected crept up and our community was clearly under attack. Precautions were taken and we slowly went back to our homes being cautious.

 For LOLA, I have to admit I have witnessed and listened to families grieve like NEVER before. While some people may take this post as a political message, I say to you this ~ Death is not political. Death will take us all and does not care whether you are young or old or relatively healthy or not ~ Death is sad. 

 Families are hurting, families are struggling to balance home schooling, work and life.

 Families are watching their loved ones die on Facetime or Zoom. They cannot wrap their brains around this reality. Families who were in need of hearts, had cancer or some major illness, are grieving their loved ones who are also dying during this muted time. Families are struggling and sad.

 My message is simple ~ No matter what the media shows you ~ DO NOT GIVE UP NOW.

 Continue to do everything to protect the ones you love as well as strangers.  Now more than ever is a time to be Selfless. 

 If you know someone needing support during this time, please let us know, we are here to help.

 www.lossoflifeadvocates.com