Death and dying are hot topics today.
People want to be educated and make more choices about
their own death. We also want to feel more comfortable
and at ease about dying. How does one make dying a more
thoughtful and meaningful experience?

Notice how we celebrate the beginning of our life: birth.
We plan pregnancy and prepare by going to birth classes.
We secure medical specialists, learn terminology, and set up
the birthplace. We have baby showers, prepare the room,
and carefully pick out furniture, baby clothes, and toys.
As we educate ourselves and plan, the more we are at ease
with the process of giving birth. We become familiar with it.
But ask most of us about our inevitable death…
“I don’t want to talk about it!”

I am involved with a group called Heartwork.
We facilitate end-of-life planning workshops which
begin the awakening about an uncomfortable topic for most
people: death. We encourage participants to share thoughts
and experiences. We sprinkle in stories and poetry.
Thus begins the slow process of becoming more comfortable
with something that is inevitable.

At these workshops we also fill out and sign an extensive
advanced directive that state exact decisions for what each
person wants near and at the time of death. Of course, we cannot
predict exactly what will happen, but the more we write out choices
that help guide those who will be caring for us to have on hand,
the better chances of a “better” death experience for all concerned.

To begin the conversation with yourself and your loved ones,
please contact me and visit:

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