If you’ve just joined Kettle & Candle—or you’ve been quietly peeking around the edges—this is for you. This space exists for people who know, deep down, that life is short… and want to live it wide.We talk about mortality, grief, advance care planning, and legacy—not to be morbid, but to be honest. This is not a doom-and-gloom room. This is a candlelit table where we tell the truth, ask real questions, and make real plans. Put the kettle on. You’re in the right place. What we’re doing here Inside this community, you’ll see: - 365 – A Year To Live: A year-long journey into living fully by facing our mortality, one breath at a time. - Live virtual gatherings & fireside chats. Real-time conversations where we share stories, questions, fears, and aha moments. - Short, practical workshops, especially around advance care planning: medical/financial powers of attorney, end-of-life wishes, and how to actually talk to the people you love. - Prompts, reflections, and shared resources. Small sparks to help you re-center on the day's life feels heavy—or beautifully fragile. - Some of you are here for the paperwork. Some of you are here for the soul work. Most of us will discover we need both. How to jump in today (not “someday”) Lurking is normal. Staying stuck there is optional. If you’re reading this, choose one action—today: 1. Introduce yourself. In the comments below, tell us: 2. Answer a gentle question. Pick one and answer in the comments: 3. Raise your hand for support. If you’re overwhelmed by planning, grief, or “I don’t even know where to start,” just type: “I’m here, but I’m unsure.”That’s a perfectly honest place to begin. You don’t have to be polished. You don’t have to have your life in order. You just have to be willing to take one small, human step. What you can expect from me (and from us) From me, you can expect: - Clear teaching rooted in 45+ years of walking with people at the end of life - Gentle but direct questions that nudge you out of “I’ll deal with it later.” - Practical guidance on planning (with the reminder: I’m not your lawyer or doctor; I’ll always encourage you to talk with your own professionals)

Howdy y’all from Texas! Looking forward to this journey with you guys!!

This is a community for honest, tender conversations about life, death, grief, and legacy. To keep it safe and usable for everyone, we agree to the following: 👉1. Lead with kindness and respect - No harassment, bullying, shaming, or personal attacks. - No hate speech or discrimination of any kind (race, gender, sexuality, religion, politics, age, ability, etc.). - Disagree with ideas, not with people. 👉2. Confidentiality is sacred - What is shared here, stays here. - Do not share someone else’s story, screenshots, or posts outside the community without explicit permission. - Remove identifying details if you’re sharing an example in a teaching context. 👉3. This is not medical, legal, financial, or mental health advice - Nothing in this community replaces professional medical, legal, financial, or mental health care. - You may share your experience (“What helped me was…”), but do not tell others what they must do. - Do not diagnose, prescribe, or offer step-by-step instructions for treatment, medications, or legal actions. 👉4. Crisis and safety - This community is not a crisis service. - If you or someone you know is in immediate danger or thinking about harming themselves or others, contact local emergency services or a crisis hotline in your area right away. - You may say, “I’m having a hard time,” but please avoid graphic details of self-harm, suicide, or violence. 👉5. Speak from your own experience - Use “I” language. Share your own story, beliefs, and questions. - We honor many spiritual, religious, and philosophical perspectives here. - No preaching, converting, or insisting that your belief is the only “right” way. 👉6. Gentle with the details - We talk about death, dying, and grief—but we don’t need gore. - Avoid graphic medical descriptions, violent detail, or anything likely to be traumatizing. - When in doubt, keep it simple and respectful. 👉7. Boundaries, DMs, and emotional labor - Do not pressure other members for 1:1 support, therapy, or “fixing.” - Ask before moving a conversation into private messages. - If you are a professional (therapist, doula, attorney, etc.), do not solicit clients or give individualized professional advice here.

Put the kettle on. 😉 You made it here, and that already tells me something important: you’re willing to look at the parts of life most people avoid—death, grief, aging, endings—and you’d rather not do that alone. 👥This space is for people who feel the tug of questions like: - What do I want to do with the time I have left? - How do I carry my grief and still live? - How do I prepare—practically and emotionally—so I don’t leave a mess behind? Here, we talk honestly about living and dying, love and loss, plans and paperwork, spirit and practicality. We make room for both the kettle (conversation, comfort, everyday life) and the candle (mortality, memory, sacredness of our limited time). 👉How this community works: You’ll see different programs and posts here—like 365 — A Year To Live and Advanced Care Planning—but underneath it all is the same heartbeat: - Tell the truth about life and death. - Learn together, not alone. - Take small, brave steps toward living and dying in alignment with your values. -  You are welcome to come exactly as you are: curious, scared, hopeful, tired, grieving, unsure, or all of the above. 🙌Introduce yourself (in a way that actually matters) When you’re ready, say hello in the comments below. You can answer any of these prompts—just what feels right: 1. What season of life are you in right now, in a few words? (Examples: “Midlife and re-evaluating everything,” “Fresh in grief,” “Caregiver mode,” “Aging and taking stock.”) 2. What quietly brought you to Kettle & Candle? A loss, a diagnosis, a birthday, a near-miss, a deep curiosity, a professional calling? 3. When you think about death, grief, or aging, what feeling shows up first? (No need to be poetic. “Terrified,” “numb,” “relieved to finally talk about it” all count.) 4. What is one hope you have for yourself in this space over the next year? (Big or small: “Get my paperwork started,” “Not feel so alone,” “Make peace with a part of my story,” etc.) 5. Is there a small comfort or ritual that helps you feel grounded lately? (Tea, walking, gardening, journaling, music, prayer, sitting in the sunshine…)