Don’t be afraid of death. Let it free you. Let it encourage you to experience life fully. But, remember, it’s not your life…Don’t waste a moment of life trying to make other things happen; appreciate the moments you are given.
—Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul
A Probable Obituary for Laura Ann Staley, Ph.D.
{ No, I am not dead, yet. I accepted the invitation from Mariah Edgington. }
Laura lived her life as a being of love, generosity, and inspiration in service and contribution to the quality of people’s lives. Born in Delaware, Ohio, Laura graduated from Delaware Hayes High School, Ohio Wesleyan University (BA in mathematics and political science). She then earned an MA and Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University. She taught politics and government classes at Ohio Wesleyan University as an associate professor. As a full-time mother, a soul calling, she worked diligently to unlearn behavior patterns, heal many traumas, and bring an end to ancestral cycles of abuse and dysfunction. Being a loving, patient, engaged, honest, wholehearted, brave, joyous, perfectly imperfect mom became one of her life’s greatest accomplishments. Laura knew the importance of seeing, hearing, believing, and valuing herself and her two children.
After a flood of a finished basement, Laura learned about the transformational wisdom of feng shui and happily began to engage these new practices with deepening awareness. Releasing hand-me-down belongings that she loathed, she discovered her voice, her joy, and a sacred purpose for a lifetime. She trained and certified with The Western School of Feng Shui. Laura created Cherish Your World to passionately support people flourishing in their homes and lives.
When her 22-year marriage ended, Laura committed-heart, mind, body, soul- to grow Cherish Your World. After living all her life in central Ohio, Laura relocated to Black Mountain, NC, her soul’s home, where she flourished surrounded by the natural beauty of the trees, mountains, flora, and fauna. Deeper spiritual awakenings revealed and expanded her purpose to include holistic transformations. She published 13 books including Live Inspired and Awaken Your Beautiful Self and spoke frequently about the benefits of emerging from the dark age of materialism and creating a fulfilling life guided by your heart’s wisdom, holistic health, and high-quality connections with people.
In her bonus round of being alive, Laura discovered new pathways to communicate post-traumatic wisdom and listen to people’s raw and real stories, to love them and receive their love. Knowing that a yearning of most people is to be seen, heard, and valued, she dedicated her life to a spiritual path of compassionate, deep, and loving presence.
She’s survived by a son, Matthew, a daughter, Julianna, a brother, Paul (Karen), a sister, Lisa (Shawn), nieces, nephews, and their children.
In lieu of flowers, Laura invites you to laugh, cry, and love one another through simple acts of kindness and compassion: to sing, run, skate, dance, draw, paint, create a life you love living, be silly; to listen to music that makes your heart sing, to live grateful for every day of your precious life; to breathe and be fully yourself; to take a walk in the natural world and fall in love with the flora and fauna all around you; to remember that you are loved more than you can even imagine and that you matter to the world.
Laura, I would add that Laura’s words and poetry always touched my life and made it better.
Incredibly grateful for you, my friend, as your words, presence, stories lift me up and keep my heart bravely open, You are a treasure in my world-this one and the one beyond…forever connected in gratitude, Larry.
Thank you, Laura, for sharing your wonderful article and inspiring us to live–fully–now. My obituary, even when the body is cremated or buried? “I do not die.” Thanks again! 🙏🙏
Thank you so much, Art. There’s something profound about the realization that the body dies, the spirit lives on in the “I do not die.” I know many people have very different perspectives on the death of the body, the release of the soul (for those who believe humans have spirits or souls beyond the body). You’ve shared one that embraces an eternal life force energy. I appreciate your perspective and your kind words. And you are so welcome!! My joy!
Laura — This is as beautiful as you are as a human. When I get depressed about the state of affairs in our country, I try to remember what a beacon of light, hope and love you are. Thank you!
Jeff, thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. Please know your insights, kindness, perspectives, questions, wonderings keep me learning and growing, open and receptive. My life remains so much richer because of you. At the end of the day, of a life, it’s the people that enrich our time here on earth.
Laura: I love this obit! It gives me so many ideas for how to write my own, including the simple idea of actually writing my own! I’d expect nothing less from a fellow Buckeye, thank you for sharing this.
Byron Edgington
BA English & Creative Writing OSU 2012.
Oh, Byron! Thank you so much for your incredibly kind feedback! I’m thrilled this inspired you to write your own! YES! To your Long Life-one Buckeye to another! Go Bucks!! 🙂