The twenty-first century has been marked by a cascade of funerary knowledge as well as end-of-life guidance. Literature is prolific, as are specialists well versed in a wide range of subjects within the death domain.
For many people, though, the greatest challenge to taking advantage of resources and learning in this arena is their own resistance. Oh, I don’t want to think about THAT is a predominant attitude.
Yet death tends to be an ever-present meddler in one's mind and is one of the most burdensome aspects of living. Denial of its realness becomes impossible when the lives of beloved companions end. Personal devastation and despair readily intrude, inflicting hardship and long-term ramifications of all sorts.
Failure to stoke cognitive awareness and prepare for the deaths of loved ones or that of oneself breeds unfortunate and sometimes damaging consequences. During terminal circumstances and upon death, vital decisions and courses of action often hinge on uninformed perspectives. Robotic rather than mindful responses intervene. Conflicts among family members may arise. Financial stress is readily incurred. Opportunities for meaningful and memorable experiences are overlooked.
It doesn’t have to be this way! Information is at your fingertips. Local community and online sources of death literacy are abundant. Individuals who awaken themselves from the blight of avoidance and ignorance are becoming invigorated by the breadth of fresh ideas and new approaches in the funerary realm.
Preparatory initiatives can be addressed while alive and well, resulting in profound satisfaction. Family receptivity to communication can be facilitated by plentiful guidelines available as antidotes to hesitation and opposition. Surprisingly, event planning for this milestone can even be enjoyable while dabbling in an expansive array of options for merchandise, services, commemorative affairs, terminal strategies, etc. Engagement can be enlivening.
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By preparing for one’s own death and the journey to reach that point, connections are strengthened. A blueprint for family to follow is a gift of immeasurable value that will be treasured for its inherent power to lift the burden of cluelessness in the midst of emotional turmoil.
Start exploring! Open online files, read the literature, access educational media, attend programs, and join discussion sessions. You are invited also to ask questions, submit thoughts, and suggest topics for consideration as you become part of a community of learners. By traversing the death domain you will undoubtedly experience life enrichment!
