It's a Dead End!

I have been working with an 88 year old to look at her arrangement for her death. Her opening remarks as we started our “Dead End project” as we have called it where how good it was to talk about it, death. You know my family just won’t, every time I bring it up they just close it down. It seems so ridiculous to me, but they are my kids, and I don’t want to make them uncomfortable.

I am here to help her with her End of Life Planning, she wants to just get it done, time is going and I need this done in case I go “down hill”, you know what I mean? I nod, we smile.

She tell me she has a policy and that is where we began, but it isn’t all about the logistics, it is about the life she lived, those she loves and how she would like to be remembered. It begins to flow, I learn so much and we laugh out loud, chuckling and being irreverent, she tells me with certainty that life is a “Dead End” and shrugs, no fear there I noted.

Death and dying are the certainties of life, having open and engaging conversations about what matters to us, our values and perspectives is freeing. End of Life discussions take away fear and allow us to plan and reflect as an individual or as a family. It really allows us to live life more fully.