Acknowledging a teacher in my life

August 31, 2017 11:39 am | by Arnie | Posted in Uncategorized

Louise Hay’s teachings had a profound impact on my formative years in my 20’s and 30’s (1980’s and 1990’s) as a massage therapist coming of age at the onset of the AIDS epidemic/pandemic, when so many neighbors, friends, acquaintances, community members, and colleagues were dying and we were all so afraid. She advocated touching and loving gay men and others living with AIDS at a time when it was not the dominant thought. She taught about unconditional love being the healing force, about forgiveness, and about the use of positive affirmations to cultivate positive intention, focus and action in our lives. 

Because of her influence, I volunteered massage at a local hospice (The Hospice at Mission Hill) and later also provided massage for people living with HIV and AIDS at the Boston Living Center for 6 years, which was a formative and deeply teaching experience for me which helped to shape and deepen my awareness, compassion, humility and gratitude for the gift of life itself.

I just found out that Louise passed away peacefully in her sleep yesterday at age 90.

She wrote many books on healing and positive thought, including her seminal work “You Can Heal Your LIfe”.  She created the Hay House and Balboa Press which has allowed many authors to publish and thrive. She championed the work of Wayne Dyer, among others. She overcame many obstacles to become an author, teacher, healer and advocate for positivity and for people to express their highest visions for humanity and to make living with JOY a strong focus in life. Her legacy also lives on through the work of the Hay Foundation which supports humanitarian causes and “animal-itarian” causes.

I honor her, her work, and the inspiration she has given me (and so many others) to embrace ourselves, to embrace self-love as a starting point for healing and acceptance, and to embrace positivity and joy as a way to honor our essential spiritual nature in the world. I honor her for the difference she made while here and the ongoing legacy of her work.

If you’re curious to learn more about her, visit:   http://www.louisehay.com/

Thank you, Louise!

Arnie