8:30 DeathWalk - Relaxed & Casual

DeathWalk 8:30am LOW EFFORT- This walk is relaxed and we will stroll on the firm sand, no step count goal, just gently walking and talking next to the waves. I am a death & end-of-life doula, in deathwork for the last nine years, and I'm inviting you to walk & talk with me for a deeply discounted price from my usual fees, in an effort to provide inexpensive death & grief support in my community.

Who is this group for?
- Caregivers & providers for end-of-life care
- People with a terminal diagnosis AND their family & friends
- Fellow doulas and/or people who are interested in entering deathwork
- People who are grieving/suffering loss
- People considering MAiD or VSED (including family, friends, & professionals who will support them)

TW: This group will discuss death & dying and will cover sensitive topics ranging the gamut from grief, sudden loss, terminal illness, MAiD (Medical Aid in Dying), etc.

Limit 5 per walk*.

Details: You must RSVP through MeetUp app to join these walks! Absolutely no drop-ins allowed as it is unfair to other participants.
Location is 1060 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA., Lot 4 North (4N). Though meetup starts at Lot 4N, you can park in 3N or 5N and walk to the meetup point easily. PLEASE park in the 15 minutes prior to start time so no one is waiting - walk begins promptly at 6:30am. PLEASE wear sunscreen & appropriate footwear. PLEASE bring any items you may need such as water, sunglasses, a hat, layers, chapstick, etc. We want to be comfy & undistracted so conversation can flow!

We'll use the wood walkway at Arizona bathrooms, near the SE end of Lot 3N, to walk down to the firm sand close to the shore.​

LOW EFFORT- This walk is relaxed and we will stroll on the firm sand, no step count goal, no specific distance - just gently walking and talking next to the waves. We will walk at Santa Monica beach & the pier will be in view. We'll go down next to the shoreline where it's easier to walk. The wave sounds will carry our conversation away. This is the laid back walk & talk time slot.​​ Bring baby powder or cornstarch if you'd like - it helps get the sand off your feet when we're done!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Anyone may turn around to leave the group at any time, as needed! No one is required to complete the whole distance if they cannot or do not want to. There are multiple parking lots along the beach and any participant may be dropped off at the meetup start, but be picked up anywhere along the way from another parking lot! Lastly, if you will be leaving early, please let me know so I can make sure I speak with you first. :)

All are welcome! For this one, it will be harder to accommodate mobility aids (wheelchair, scooter, etc) but they can be accommodated to a point on the boardwalk - still, bear in mind that this is a walking event mostly in the sand & plan accordingly. [If walking is outside your capabilities but you still need doula support, you might consider the once-monthly park meetup on Saturdays instead OR a friend or family member might be able to come in your stead. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have questions about accommodation.] ​​​

If you join DeathWalk - you are entering into a tacit agreement: DeathWalk is a group for discussion, support, guidance, Q & A, and especially listening to each other. It is also for those who may not be ready to talk yet but need community to support loss. This group is a safe space for deep conversation and it is expected that everyone participating will exercise good listening skills, polite behavior (including staying quiet when you don't have something good to say), and discretion - these conversations are private, personal, and for us only, not intended for discussion outside the group.

*5 person per walk limit is so that I can be attentive to every individual present & provide individual support & feedback during the time we have.
Let's get our steps in & get into it. ~m