There are moments in life that change us forever—crossroads where loss, love, and purpose intersect in ways we never expected. For me, that moment came with the passing of a dear friend. She had been living with a long illness, but instead of retreating into fear, she chose transformation. She turned toward life with a clarity and presence that was both humbling and beautiful. She forgave, she loved more deeply, she let go of what no longer mattered. She prepared for her departure, not in sadness, but with an awareness that allowed her to truly live, even as she was dying.
Being by her side during those final months changed me in a way I didn’t fully understand at the time. I didn’t just witness her journey; I was profoundly moved by it. I saw the difference it made for her to feel supported, to be accompanied, to have space to reflect on her life and prepare her goodbyes. It planted a seed in me, one that led me to pursue training as an end-of-life companion after she was gone. I wanted to understand more, to hold space for others the way she was held, to be present for both those at the end of their lives and the families who walk that path alongside them.
The Power of Acknowledging Our Finitude
We don’t often talk about finitude. In a world that urges us to always look ahead, it’s easy to live as if time is infinite. But when we truly sit with the reality that our days are numbered, something shifts. That awareness has the power to transform how we love, how we forgive, how we spend our time.
I saw it happen with my friend. The moment she received her diagnosis, she began to live differently, more intentionally. And in doing so, she taught me one of the most important lessons of my life: that acknowledging our mortality is not about fearing death—it’s about learning how to truly live.
When we embrace our own finitude, we start to ask ourselves different questions:
- What truly matters to me?
- What do I want to leave behind?
- How can I live each day with meaning?
These questions have become a guide for me, shaping how I move through the world and how I support others in their end-of-life journey.
The Gift of Being Accompanied in the Final Moments
When someone approaches the end of their life, they deserve more than just medical care. They deserve presence. They deserve to be seen, heard, and held in the fullness of who they are. That’s the heart of end-of-life companionship—to walk alongside someone as they reflect on their life, reconcile what needs to be reconciled, and leave their final mark on the world.
Dying is not just a medical event; it is an emotional, spiritual, and deeply human experience. And having someone to walk that path with you makes all the difference. Some people use this time to reflect, to forgive, to share final words with loved ones. Others find comfort simply in knowing they are not alone.
Families, too, need support—a space to grieve, to remember, to find meaning even in loss. When a loved one is accompanied with care and intention, their transition becomes a moment of peace rather than fear, of connection rather than regret. That is why this work matters so deeply to me.
How This Work Has Changed Me
Studying to become an end-of-life companion wasn’t just about learning techniques or frameworks. It was about being transformed. The more I learned, the more I realized that this isn’t just about the dying—it’s about the living.
I don’t see life the way I once did.
I try to stay present more often. I try to make my time count—not in a way that rushes to achieve, but in a way that is meaningful. I ask myself: If I had only one year left, how would I live it? And I try, as much as I can, to live in alignment with that answer.
It’s not always easy. The world pulls us into distractions, into routines, into plans that assume we have unlimited time. But when I pause, when I reconnect to what I’ve learned, I feel grounded in the knowledge that every moment matters.
The Heart of Pachamama: Honoring Life, Creating Legacy
That is what Pachamama is about. It’s not just about biodegradable urns or farewell ceremonies. It’s about giving families the tools to honor life—to find meaning in loss, to create moments of remembrance, to continue walking their own path with love and purpose.
Grief doesn’t end. But it transforms, just like everything else in nature. We carry those we love forward, not in sorrow, but in the way we choose to live.
I see it in the families I’ve had the privilege of supporting. I see it in the stories they share, in the rituals they create, in the love that continues to grow even after their loved one is gone. That is the true legacy we leave behind—not the things we accumulate, but the impact we have on the hearts of those who walk beside us.
An Invitation to Live with Meaning
If you are reading this, if you are in grief, or if you are thinking about how to honor a loved one, know that you are not alone. We are all on this journey together, each of us learning how to hold onto love while letting go at the same time.
I invite you to take a moment today to reflect. Not on loss, but on life. On what you want your days to mean. On the legacy you want to create, not just in the far future, but in the quiet, everyday moments that make up a life well-lived.
This is what I remind myself every day: we cannot control how much time we have, but we can control how we spend it. And if we spend it with love, with presence, with intention—then that, in the end, is what truly matters.
With love and presence,
Virginia