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SUMMARY:Living and Dying with Creativity and Joy
CATEGORIES:event
DESCRIPTION:Living and Dying with Creativity and Joy Acknowledging that we will die may seem daunting, yet it can also open remarkable possibilities for living more fully and creatively. When we accept the reality of our mortality, we often discover deeper joy, greater presence, and a renewed appreciation for the time we have. Sam Stebbins, certified end-of-life doula, grief educator and coach, frequent Death Café host, interspiritual counselor and seminarian, and retired family physician, invites participants into a thoughtful and creative exploration of life, spirit, and mortality. Through reflection, conversation, and experiential exercises, participants will explore how acknowledging the inevitability of death can deepen creativity, awaken joy, and enrich everyday living. Session 1: Awareness and Deep Listening Exploring awareness, deep listening to ourselves and to others, and the “Aha!” moments of insight that arise when we become more attentive to life. Participants will begin developing their own personal collection of spiritual practices and insights from various wisdom traditions. “The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” — W. B. Yeats Session 2: Exploring Death and Dying We will gently explore what it means to acknowledge and accept death. Together we’ll reflect on presence, living in the moment, and how awareness of mortality can transform the way we live. “I never knew it [dying] could be so sweet… like candy or chocolate.” — a recent client of Sam Session 3: Creativity, Joy, and Surprise Putting it all together: Cultivating joy, spontaneity, creativity, gratitude, and the wonderful surprises that rise up when we do so. “The object isn’t to make art, it’s to be in that wonderful state which makes art inevitable.” — Robert Henri Come explore how creativity, spirit, and the awareness of our mortality can lead us toward a fuller, more meaningful way of living. DATE(S): Mondays - October 5, 12, and 19, 2026 TIME: 6:30 - 8:00 PM ET COST: $90 LOCATION: ZOOM REGISTRATION is required. IMPORTANT: You will receive an email from programming@wellforthejourney.org at least 24 hours in advance of the start of your program. If you are unable to find the email, please check your SPAM or JUNK email folders. This email will include details to help you prepare for your program including any pertinent handouts, location information, and the ZOOM link for online programs. Please be sure you have received and read this email a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the start of the program. Thank you! FACILITATOR: Sam Stebbins FACILITATOR BIO: Sam Stebbins is a retired family physician with a passion for serving people. He is a certified Interspiritual Counselor/Companion and an INELDA-trained and certified end-of-life Doula with an active practice in the DC Metro area. He is also a certified Grief Education Coach (David Kessler’s program), dedicated Hospice volunteer, and experienced Death Café facilitator. A happy husband, father, grandfather and pet caretaker, Sam is also seminary student in an interspiritual program who expects to be ordained in July 2026. 
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