walking with people of all ages in life
to create a paradigm shift in dealing with the loss that has brought them to this valley called grief
meet the
valleywalker
For Paul, life has been a journey of transformation, and perseverance with a commitment to compassion. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, his career and personal life have taken him across the world, from serving as a clergyman to leading major fundraising initiatives for various international causes. In 2011, he made the move to British Columbia, where he met his life-partner.
The common thread has always been no matter what his geographical location or present moment vocation to be found alongside the discouraged, disquieted, and dis-eased stirring up within them a confident expectation, that this present loss is nothing more than a moment in their overall journey.
So in 2023, post-COVID, Paul completed the End of Life Doula course through Vancouver’s Douglas College, graduated from The Grief Well Facilitators course, and retired in order that he would be more available to walk out his identity and destiny as the Valley Walker. Today he spends countless hours assisting people of all ages and and at all stages in creating a paradigm shift in the way they deal with any loss that brings them to this valley called Grief.
There is a way out of the valley and it really is possible to thrive as opposed to barely survive, this journey we call Life.
“When I speak about making a paradigm shift when it comes to grief it’s not theoretical, its lived.”
... let’s talk about our next steps together.
walking the path of grief ...together.
We all at some point in our lives have experienced an intense period of sadness known as grief. It is part of the human experience, almost like a rite of passage into real humanity. Whether that be the loss of a parent, a spouse, a child, a marriage, or a job/career we experience grief that can become like living in a sunless valley or as some call it a dark night of the soul.
Research in human behavior shows that men experience or express grief differently than women. Men are more likely to grieve in silence or isolation, and to use work or other activities to distract themselves. They may also describe their grief in physical terms, such as tightness in the chest or a knot in the stomach. Whereas, women tend to share, tell their story seeking support and connection.
But, unless we become willing to express our grief and to get support there could be an increased risk of you experiencing anger, bitterness or even illness, and substance abuse- a path none of us or our family wish to see us go down.
In conjunction and cooperation with The Grief Well (www.thegriefwell.ca) as a trained Grief Facilitator I would like to invite you to go for a walk. In Latin there is a phrase ‘solvitur ambulando’ that means “It is solved by walking".
This is my invitation to together make an 8 session commitment where you and I weekly go for a 90 minute walk. Not a hike or jog, just a walk. I sincerely wish to hear ‘Your Story’, because as I and countless others have discovered, sometimes you just need someone to walk beside you, a Valley-Walker, a Grief Confidant if you would, someone who understands how to be present with just their presence.
Having personally walked the path of grief, at times a mental health nightmare, I have discovered that by creating a new path, via a paradigm shift in the way that we identify with that which has driven us into this valley, grief will no longer be a tyrannical teacher, but a gracious guide.
Send me an email or text and let’s arrange the best time to go for that walk.