I have taken on the position as Luminaria Chair. I am currently my father's secondary caretaker. (My mother being primary) of course the hardest thing I have ever had to do. I am BRAND new at this (both caretaking and Relay) I have never even been to a Relay. I am very happy to take this on. I am however green and emotional! I would love some support and ideas on how to hold it together for the night. As emotional as I am I do tend to be upbeat and I know the Luminaria ceremony is a solemn one...which I plan it to be, but I would like to hear what you all think if there were a bit of positivity to it... in order to keep myself and others there from completely losing it. Or is it best to keep it as it supposed to be...a time to crack.
I am crying my eyes out looking for songs right now!
I just want to say that you are so not alone. I have now been to Relay 6 times (4 Relays last year) and I cry at every single luminaria ceremony, but it is good for me. I lost my grandma 11 years ago and didn't get to say goodbye, and I always feel her presence when I walk at Luminaria. It is hard, but it is also empowering. Good for you for taking on Luminaria. It is the most meaningful part of Relay for me and so many others. Cry all you need to, because you will never cry alone at Relay. Last year after my Relay I was burned out and frustrated with the manager at my ACS office, but I went to a Relay in a nearby city, walked the Luminaria Lap there and decided that nothing was going to stop me from pushing forward and working hard on this year's Relay. It brought me back to Relay. I cannot stress enough how much that one ceremony has changed my life!
Some great songs for Luminaria that I love:
Say by John Mayer
Little Wonders by Rob Thomas
Meaning by Gavin DeGraw
If you go to the Luminaria section on this forum, you will find great song suggestions.
Welcome to the Relay Family and good luck with your Relay!
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
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Heather Alvey
Event Chair for Reno/Sparks
April 6, 2008 - 11:29am login or register to post comments
LisaBrianne
Posts: 7
Joined: 2008-03-28
Thanks so much!
Thank you so much Heather for the loving support. I am sorry to hear you no longer have your Grandmother as I have too suffered the lost of mine recently and I know it hurts. I think it great that you have found something to work towards and that channels the pain to a place that really means something for yourself and so many others.
I am looking forward to the race and excited for the journey.
Be well. Your kind words are appreciated.
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"Every human life contains the power for self healing. Realization of this potential leads to freedom of a miseries." Swami Rama
Lisa Brianne Reinschmidt Certified Health Counselor
April 8, 2008 - 5:42pm login or register to post comments
edsunshine
Posts: 3
Joined: 2008-03-24
keeping it together
Lisa,
I have been a caretaker for 4 in my home that have all died of cancer. I lost my father in January of 05 to cancer. I have gone to relays since 05 and I will never forget the first one, I cried until I thought I could not cry anymore. You won't be able to not cry, it will just happen. I can say one thing over the last three years I have learned what the word celebrate means and that is how I look at things now. In the luminaria ceramony, you can take it up a notch by focusing on the life that the loved ones had and the celebration that the ones still alive can experience. It is all about celebration for me. Find some poems that express the good things in life that loved one shared with family and friend, I am imagining a peom about a little girl and her father maybe, or a son playing catch with his father, the good things. Yes you will mention that we miss them, but try to focus on the life they had, not that they are not with us now.
Just an idea.
Mary
Las Vegas, Nevada
April 5, 2008 - 4:14pm login or register to post comments
LisaBrianne
Posts: 7
Joined: 2008-03-28
Hi Mary...
I am very sorry
Hi Mary...
I am very sorry to hear of you losses. This is hard as it is. Thank you for reaching out to me. It is appreciated so much to hear that my feelings are validated and it is ok to cry or have emotion through it all. I will look for the perfect poems to reflect on celebration as well as the loss. You are right...it is very important that we recognize that part too...or we would lose it! And I am sure all that are lost would much rather we celebrate than be lost and sad.
I very much appreciate your support. I will make it the best ceremony I can.
Warmly,
Lisa
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"Every human life contains the power for self healing. Realization of this potential leads to freedom of a miseries." Swami Rama
Lisa Brianne Reinschmidt Certified Health Counselor
April 8, 2008 - 5:46pm login or register to post comments
dsuminski
Posts: 85
Joined: 2007-10-29
Luminaria's
Hi Lisa,
As you get further into Relay, you will realize you are not alone. You will find more new friends and others that will give you strength and help giude you through the process.
This years theme, CELEBRATE REMEMBER FIGHT BACK are 3 POWERFUL words.
We Celebrate the one's that have survived and are making great strides....
We remember the one's that lost the fight.
We Fight Back at Cancer and all it's pains it brings to everyone involved.
The Survivors Lap and the Lumanaria Ceremony are probably the 2 most emotional things most people ever have the honor of witnessing.
You laugh, you cry.......you hug......cry more .....that is what it's for ....Kind of a cleansing of emotions....knowing your not alone.....knowing there are people that are able to beat Cancer....and you realize the hundreds of people around you are all there for the same reason...... TO FIGHT BACK.
Here are a few songs that bring me not only to tears but give me hope when I listen to them ......
Joined: 2008-03-28