Martha Johnson spent her professional life doing what she really enjoyed. Among them, being an elementary school teacher, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Colombia, a manager for the National Parks within and surrounding Washington, DC. Then, for 20 very satisfying years in DC, she served as founder and principal of her own small business, proud to pass it on to the capable hands of her stepchildren for another 18 years. She created The Breakthrough! Approach to getting desired results, and consulted to organizations and their senior executives in the capacity of trainer, facilitator, and leader coach.
When a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis dramatically changed her life at 58, she came “home” to Western Massachusetts. Her desire to heal turned into a journey in itself. With no sense of being a “writer”, she started journaling as a kind of personal therapy.
“How will I survive all these losses?” became her critical focus. After sharing a few of her therapeutic poems and musings with a good friend who happened to be an editor, she heard: “Martha, keep writing!” After 8 years of tracking her healing journey, she started to accept that maybe, just maybe, her reflections on the act of recreating a life would have meaning to others. Besides, she found herself deeply enjoying the process of writing in order to discover, learn and heal.
As a result, the questions of “How now will I live?” have been explored in different ways in three books.
In 2012, at 72, Martha seriously downsized, sold the family homestead in South Hadley, and moved to a senior living residence as one of the youngest residents. Still active, with a cane and walker, and a scooter, she found herself convening conversations for the over 55s at Holyoke Community College, Genesis Retreat Center, and with neighbors and friends.
At 74, prompted by her younger brother’s unexpected demise, she finally realized “I, too, am going to die!” And, her late-in-life mission emerged: “I want to live fully, age gracefully and powerfully, and die well. Given that it is hard to plan for and execute these intentions alone, I wish to join and facilitate conversations with those who want to do the same.
End-of-life author Gail Rubin offered advice: “Just as talking about sex won’t make you pregnant, talking about aging and death won’t make you any older or any deader.” In fact, exploring and addressing the mostly avoided aspects of next chapter living and dying, actually offers more energy, more purpose, and more peace of mind.
Thought provoking questions, gentle guidance and kick-butt honesty, imbued with the wisdom of illness and age, are the hallmarks of Martha’s writing and personal mentorship.