CLICK BELOW TO REDISCOVER HUMANITY
A DECADE+ OF STORYTELLING POWERED BY THE BEST WRITERS ON THE PLANET

The Obituary Challenge

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 Staley
Laura Staleyhttp://www.cherishyourworld.com
The founder of Cherish Your World, Laura Staley passionately helps people thrive by guiding them to a holistic transformation of space, heart, mind, body, and soul. Laura knows that there’s a relationship between the conditions of our homes or workplaces and the quality of our lives. Trained and certified with the Western School of Feng Shui and seasoned by almost two decades of working with a variety of clients, Laura uses her intuition and expertise to empower her clients to produce remarkable results in their lives. Her trifecta of serving people includes speaking, writing, and compassionate listening. As a columnist, Laura writes personal essays focused on self-discovery, feng shui, emotional health, and transformations from the inside out. Laura is the published author of three books: Live Inspired, Let Go Courageously and Live with Love: Transform Your Life with Feng Shui, and the Cherish Your World Gift Book of 100 Tips to Enhance Your Home and Life. Prior to creating her company, Laura worked as a fulltime parent and an assistant professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. She earned a Ph.D. in political science from The Ohio State University. Her joys in life include laughing with loved ones, dancing, reading, meditating, running, being in nature, and listening to music she loves. She resides in Black Mountain, NC with lovable dog, Layla. Laura is a contributing author to the inspiring book Crappy to Happy: Sacred Stories of Transformational Joy

DO YOU HAVE THE "WRITE" STUFF? If you’re ready to share your wisdom of experience, we’re ready to share it with our massive global audience – by giving you the opportunity to become a published Contributor on our award-winning Site with (your own byline). And who knows? – it may be your first step in discovering your “hidden Hemmingway”. LEARN MORE HERE


8 CONVERSATIONS

    • 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 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!

    • 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.

    • 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!! 🙂

TAKE STROLL INSIDE 360° NATION

TIME FOR A "JUST BE." MOMENT?

ENJOY OUR FREE EVENTS

BECAUSE WE'RE BETTER TOGETHER