O MAG INSIDERS

MEET O MAG INSIDER – SUZANNE O’BRIEN, R.N.

BY RACHEL SIMMONDS

Age: 52

Occupation: CEO/Founder of International Doulagivers Institute

What did you want to be when you were a little girl? A ballerina or a nurse

What are some different jobs you’ve had in your life?

Administrative Assistant, Personal Trainer, Nurse’s Aide, Registered Hospice Nurse, Registered Oncology Nurse

What do you work toward in your spare time?

Practicing presence and strengthening my spiritual growth by taking classes and/or reading a great spiritual book

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

I used to be a 9 to 5 girl. Bed by 9pm and up at 5am, but now that I am 52, my inner clock has shifted. I stay up later now, so I am more on an 11pm to 7am schedule.

What are you most proud of?

“Doulagivers® World Training Day” – Every year on April 20th we offer the Doulagivers Level 1 End of Life Doula Community Caregiver Training for free to people all over the world. This training teaches families how to care for a dying loved one. It is a beautiful holistic model and appeals to how much more similar we are than different. It brings us together in our humanity. 2019 was our first year and we had 26 events in 6 different countries. Our hope is to grow every year.

What are you known for?

My Doulagivers® End-of-Life Doula Training. This training was inspired by a volunteer hospice nursing trip I took to Zimbabwe, Africa, in 2012. The amazing people there showed me that even with no medicine, the “power of our presence” is the best medicine we can give. This trip changed my life.

What inspires you?

Love of all kinds.

Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.

I have mentored two girls since they were ages 6 and 7. They are both doing extraordinarily well. One is now 30 and shared the huge impact my role in her life played. I would see her once a week for a few hours. It is amazing how a small amount of our time can have such a big impact for another person.

Why did you apply to be an O Mag Insider?

I have always looked for mentors and inspiration. O Magazine has that all in one place. Everyone knows that I am a holistic practitioner in everything I do, whether it is caring for the dying or teaching people how to live the best life possible. This is a holistic journey, and we need to understand that we are all holistic beings that need to nurture each of those parts of us for optimal health and wellness. Every issue of O Magazine is full of inspiration, advice, and recommendations for products that improve the quality of our lives. Their message is exactly aligned with mine, and I wanted an opportunity to share that with as many people as possible.

How do you live your best life?

I try to live in a perpetual state of gratitude and presence. At this point in my life, I have learned so much. It is about letting go and going with the flow. What I mean by that is to realize that you do not need to push. The universe is at work and has the best plan for you. Having trust in that and being grateful and asking “how may I be of service” to align yourself with the energy of gratitude and presence will allow you to see exactly where you need to go to align with your life’s purpose.

What are you reading now?

Metahuman: Unleashing Your Infinite Potential by Deepak Chopra

What’s a day in your life like?

I start my day in meditation and then have a blueprint for the workday. I try to schedule several minutes to meditate during my day as well. This is where you take 5 minutes and reconnect to your center by doing some deep breathing or going outside. It is so easy to get swept away with the frenetic energy of the day-to-day world. I love to do some exercise, get outside, check in with friends and family, and play with my dog Maple. I then do a few hours of work again at the end of the day/evening. At night, I try to end the day with a prayer of gratitude as I head off to sleep.