E142 Focus on Facets - Spiritual Wellness

Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 142
Date: October 15, 2024

Participants: John Webster, Noura Saad, Elise Seifert and Stephen Seifert
Guest: Nora Fueten

Start Times and Segments:

[0:00:17] What’s On Your Mind: Noura asks John what’s on his bucket list. John’s not really a bucket list person, but he does have things he wants to try. Noura shares her ideas. The discussion covers staying overnight in a haunted house, surfing and more.

[0:10:36] Focus on Facets: John introduces the category of Spiritual Wellness during our 8-week Focus on Facets program.

[0:15:17] Expanding Minds Interview: [Spiritual Wellness] We interview of Reverend Nora Fueten.⁠ She received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Once Nora stopped being able to be a Minister and a choral director (and to do other things), she wondered “who am I then?”. She started to let go of all that. You let go of the ego stuff and recognized that you’re cared for and loved. There’s beauty all around you and every moment is precious. She’s happy she had a chance to have a bonfire by a lake with her grandchildren. She talked about the circle of life, that every life comes to an end, and that we celebrate what was good about the person’s life. She believes it’s important to share our common experiences. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a matter of expressing how it feels and being thankful for the wonderful things we’ve had in our lives.

[0:31:20] Flipside of the Coin: Elise and Stephen talk about sharing everyday household tasks, with lots of working together.

Quotes and Take-Aways:

Rev. Nora – I realized I couldn’t continue as a minister in a church. I did not have the strength. The same was true of my lovely acapella choir that I’ve enjoyed so much for thirty years. When you realize you can’t do that anymore, you start wondering “who am I?” If I’m not Nora the Minister or Nora the choral director, then who am I? But I’m starting to let go of all that. It’s interesting. You let go of the ego stuff and recognize that you’re cared for and you’re loved and there is beauty all around you and every moment is precious.

Rev. Nora – I know my grandchildren were listening to the conversation of my illness, but we weren’t discussing it. I came up with the idea to have a bonfire with them down by the lake. I was able to talk about the circle of life and the fact that everybody’s life comes to an end sometime. We celebrate everything that was good about that person’s life. I was very happy to be able to talk to my grandchildren about that. I hope they will remember what I said when I get to the point that I won’t be here anymore.

Rev. Nora – One of the reasons I agreed to be interviewed for this is because I believe we need to share our common experiences. We’re all going to face something like this eventually. There’s nothing to be ashamed of or afraid of. It’s a matter of expressing how it feels, being positive and being thankful for the wonderful things we’ve had in our lives.

Rev. Nora – I miss the connection with other people. I realized how much it means to me, to be part of a group doing something. I miss the interaction in person with people.

Rev. Nora – When I think of not being here anymore and I look outside the window and see leaves changing colour and birds flying around. There’s all the beauty of nature and then I sit down and play music on the piano. I listen to my record collection, and I think, “that’s all so beautiful. I really don’t want to say goodbye to it.”

Rev. Nora – I would like to share the fact that having taken the time to explore who I really am. I’m going to use religious terms – who I really am in terms of God’s creation and who or what God is. Taking the time to think that through and to be open to whatever insights come. That is really helpful when you come to the end.

Guest Information: Reverend Nora Fueten was a United Church Minister. She studied Music at University of Calgary and obtained her Masters of Divinity from Emanuel College at University of Toronto. Some experiences include growing up in the Brantford area, five years as a vocal coach and assistant conductor with an opera in Dusseldorf, Germany, sheep farming in Brant County and leading a cappella choir. She’s active politically and was a Green Party candidate. Her husband Horst, who passed away in 2018, was born in Germany. Nora has two daughters, a stepson and three grandchildren. Nora passed away on January 10, 2024.

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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-)   Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila, Elise, Isabelle, Noura, Julie and Riley