I’m going to begin today by saying something to all of you that you already
something to all of you that you already
something to all of you that you already know yet perhaps haven’t taken the time
know yet perhaps haven’t taken the time
know yet perhaps haven’t taken the time to carefully consider you’re going to
to carefully consider you’re going to
to carefully consider you’re going to die every one of you in this room and
die every one of you in this room and
die every one of you in this room and everyone that you know and that you love
everyone that you know and that you love
everyone that you know and that you love will die and despite all of the
will die and despite all of the
will die and despite all of the advancements with all the longevity
advancements with all the longevity
advancements with all the longevity scientists in Silicon Valley who believe
scientists in Silicon Valley who believe
scientists in Silicon Valley who believe death is yet another solvable problem
death is yet another solvable problem
death is yet another solvable problem this truth remains today so as we
this truth remains today so as we
this truth remains today so as we explore this very real and very big
explore this very real and very big
explore this very real and very big topic I would like to invite you all to
topic I would like to invite you all to
topic I would like to invite you all to take some personal inventory of how this
take some personal inventory of how this
take some personal inventory of how this conversation is affecting you take
conversation is affecting you take
conversation is affecting you take notice of any sensations on your body or
notice of any sensations on your body or
notice of any sensations on your body or any thoughts that are triggered in your
any thoughts that are triggered in your
any thoughts that are triggered in your mind
mind
mind and notice what caused those thoughts I
and notice what caused those thoughts I
and notice what caused those thoughts I find it curious that in our society we
find it curious that in our society we
find it curious that in our society we speak freely and openly about improbable
speak freely and openly about improbable
speak freely and openly about improbable things such as the New York Giants
things such as the New York Giants
things such as the New York Giants winning the game today yet something
winning the game today yet something
winning the game today yet something that is guaranteed to each and every one
that is guaranteed to each and every one
that is guaranteed to each and every one of us it’s not something that is openly
of us it’s not something that is openly
of us it’s not something that is openly conversed about so what is it about
conversed about so what is it about
conversed about so what is it about death that causes an entire society to
death that causes an entire society to
death that causes an entire society to tiptoe around it the first thing that
tiptoe around it the first thing that
tiptoe around it the first thing that comes to mind is fear of the unknown our
comes to mind is fear of the unknown our
comes to mind is fear of the unknown our Western culture is addicted to
Western culture is addicted to
Western culture is addicted to scientific methods reductionism where we
scientific methods reductionism where we
scientific methods reductionism where we can break down and measure and reduce
can break down and measure and reduce
can break down and measure and reduce and understand all the phenomena of life
and understand all the phenomena of life
and understand all the phenomena of life yet death presents a very interesting
yet death presents a very interesting
yet death presents a very interesting challenge to us it isn’t abyss from
challenge to us it isn’t abyss from
challenge to us it isn’t abyss from which no man has ever gone to and
which no man has ever gone to and
which no man has ever gone to and returned and therefore we are not able
returned and therefore we are not able
returned and therefore we are not able to use all of our scientific tools to
to use all of our scientific tools to
to use all of our scientific tools to measure it and break it down and
measure it and break it down and
measure it and break it down and understand it and culturally speaking we
understand it and culturally speaking we
understand it and culturally speaking we tend to avoid life’s great unsolvable
tend to avoid life’s great unsolvable
tend to avoid life’s great unsolvable mysteries so I’d like to do a show of
mysteries so I’d like to do a show of
mysteries so I’d like to do a show of hands in the room here who here has been
hands in the room here who here has been
hands in the room here who here has been present for a
present for a
present for a one during their dyeing process most of
one during their dyeing process most of
one during their dyeing process most of you and who here has been present for
you and who here has been present for
you and who here has been present for the moment of transition itself and who
the moment of transition itself and who
the moment of transition itself and who here has never been touched by the death
here has never been touched by the death
here has never been touched by the death of a close loved one nobody and who in
of a close loved one nobody and who in
of a close loved one nobody and who in this room today it’s currently dying
very good all of your hands should be
very good all of your hands should be raised because the fact of our birth
raised because the fact of our birth
raised because the fact of our birth guarantees that we too will die today in
guarantees that we too will die today in
guarantees that we too will die today in North America physicians are not well
North America physicians are not well
North America physicians are not well trained in end-of-life care despite all
trained in end-of-life care despite all
trained in end-of-life care despite all the years of schooling that medical care
the years of schooling that medical care
the years of schooling that medical care practitioners received there is on
practitioners received there is on
practitioners received there is on average 17 hours dedicated to training
average 17 hours dedicated to training
average 17 hours dedicated to training around palliative care insurance
around palliative care insurance
around palliative care insurance companies do not have a way to reimburse
companies do not have a way to reimburse
companies do not have a way to reimburse doctors for time spent consulting
doctors for time spent consulting
doctors for time spent consulting patients on their end of life choices
patients on their end of life choices
patients on their end of life choices the vocabulary reviews around terminal
the vocabulary reviews around terminal
the vocabulary reviews around terminal illness is the same that we use when
illness is the same that we use when
illness is the same that we use when we’re conversing around war death is
we’re conversing around war death is
we’re conversing around war death is seen as the ultimate failure in medicine
seen as the ultimate failure in medicine
seen as the ultimate failure in medicine and many wish to rage rage against the
and many wish to rage rage against the
and many wish to rage rage against the dying light as Dylan Thomas the poet
dying light as Dylan Thomas the poet
dying light as Dylan Thomas the poet once put in an eighth of Americans with
once put in an eighth of Americans with
once put in an eighth of Americans with terminal cancer will receive chemo in
terminal cancer will receive chemo in
terminal cancer will receive chemo in their last week alive and nearly a third
their last week alive and nearly a third
their last week alive and nearly a third of elderly Americans undergo surgery in
of elderly Americans undergo surgery in
of elderly Americans undergo surgery in their final year and 8% of terminally
their final year and 8% of terminally
their final year and 8% of terminally ill elders undergo surgery in their
ill elders undergo surgery in their
ill elders undergo surgery in their final week alive interestingly 90% of
final week alive interestingly 90% of
final week alive interestingly 90% of seniors from one survey reported that
seniors from one survey reported that
seniors from one survey reported that their doctors never brought up
their doctors never brought up
their doctors never brought up end-of-life planning and now doctors are
end-of-life planning and now doctors are
end-of-life planning and now doctors are Tribute this failure to instigate these
Tribute this failure to instigate these
Tribute this failure to instigate these conversations with their patients to a
conversations with their patients to a
conversations with their patients to a fear that to bring up death would be
fear that to bring up death would be
fear that to bring up death would be would cause their patients to lose hope
would cause their patients to lose hope
would cause their patients to lose hope interestingly enough that’s an unfounded
interestingly enough that’s an unfounded
interestingly enough that’s an unfounded fear as additional studies have shown
fear as additional studies have shown
fear as additional studies have shown that seriously ill patients who engage
that seriously ill patients who engage
that seriously ill patients who engage with end of life care planning has
with end of life care planning has
with end of life care planning has statistically better health care
statistically better health care
statistically better health care outcomes than those who did not a
outcomes than those who did not a
outcomes than those who did not a constructive conversation about managing
constructive conversation about managing
constructive conversation about managing person’s dying process well and
person’s dying process well and
person’s dying process well and providing prognosis that includes some
providing prognosis that includes some
providing prognosis that includes some form of hope are seen as mutually
form of hope are seen as mutually
form of hope are seen as mutually exclusive do they have to be the vast
exclusive do they have to be the vast
exclusive do they have to be the vast majority of patients are not well
majority of patients are not well
majority of patients are not well informed about the many choices they can
informed about the many choices they can
informed about the many choices they can make about their end-of-life care even
make about their end-of-life care even
make about their end-of-life care even broaching the subject with loved ones
broaching the subject with loved ones
broaching the subject with loved ones and family members is felt as
and family members is felt as
and family members is felt as uncomfortable and even taboo as if
uncomfortable and even taboo as if
uncomfortable and even taboo as if mentioning the word death will bring
mentioning the word death will bring
mentioning the word death will bring about some form of hesse so what does
about some form of hesse so what does
about some form of hesse so what does this result in people seek to make the
this result in people seek to make the
this result in people seek to make the best decision for their loved ones
best decision for their loved ones
best decision for their loved ones especially at the end of life and
especially at the end of life and
especially at the end of life and oftentimes they go against decisions
oftentimes they go against decisions
oftentimes they go against decisions that were made earlier on in the dying
that were made earlier on in the dying
that were made earlier on in the dying process because medical care
process because medical care
process because medical care practitioners and families often
practitioners and families often
practitioners and families often perceive that the goal that they are
perceive that the goal that they are
perceive that the goal that they are seeking the achievement that they’re
seeking the achievement that they’re
seeking the achievement that they’re hoping for an end-of-life is the
hoping for an end-of-life is the
hoping for an end-of-life is the extension of life without examining what
extension of life without examining what
extension of life without examining what the quality of that time that more time
the quality of that time that more time
the quality of that time that more time looks like without examining the
looks like without examining the
looks like without examining the intrusive procedures that often come
intrusive procedures that often come
intrusive procedures that often come along with more time many will die in
along with more time many will die in
along with more time many will die in hospitals with tubes coming out of them
hospitals with tubes coming out of them
hospitals with tubes coming out of them from every angle with machines bleeping
from every angle with machines bleeping
from every angle with machines bleeping with the white walls and fluorescent
with the white walls and fluorescent
with the white walls and fluorescent lights and the smell of bleach imbuing
lights and the smell of bleach imbuing
lights and the smell of bleach imbuing their experience when my beloved uncle
their experience when my beloved uncle
their experience when my beloved uncle fell terminally ill I witnessed my
fell terminally ill I witnessed my
fell terminally ill I witnessed my entire family show up for one another
entire family show up for one another
entire family show up for one another not quite knowing what to do there was
not quite knowing what to do there was
not quite knowing what to do there was no shortage of kindness there was no
no shortage of kindness there was no
no shortage of kindness there was no shortage of love and of people willing
shortage of love and of people willing
shortage of love and of people willing to do anything and everything for
to do anything and everything for
to do anything and everything for everyone yet there was also no candid
everyone yet there was also no candid
everyone yet there was also no candid conversation about the truth of what was
conversation about the truth of what was
conversation about the truth of what was happening and things left unsaid have a
happening and things left unsaid have a
happening and things left unsaid have a way of leaving their mark and I had a
way of leaving their mark and I had a
way of leaving their mark and I had a very different experience one that I
very different experience one that I
very different experience one that I wasn’t necessarily signed up for when my
wasn’t necessarily signed up for when my
wasn’t necessarily signed up for when my employer who had become a friend of mine
employer who had become a friend of mine
employer who had become a friend of mine after seven months of being his personal
after seven months of being his personal
after seven months of being his personal assistant asked me to take him to the
assistant asked me to take him to the
assistant asked me to take him to the hospital one day and I was sitting in
hospital one day and I was sitting in
hospital one day and I was sitting in the room with him and I’ll never forget
the room with him and I’ll never forget
the room with him and I’ll never forget the expression on his face when the
the expression on his face when the
the expression on his face when the doctor stood over him and said Rick you
doctor stood over him and said Rick you
doctor stood over him and said Rick you are a dying man and I was in my early
are a dying man and I was in my early
are a dying man and I was in my early 20s I was actually also still grieving
20s I was actually also still grieving
20s I was actually also still grieving the loss of another very close personal
the loss of another very close personal
the loss of another very close personal friend of mine and I was in way over my
friend of mine and I was in way over my
friend of mine and I was in way over my head and it was very clear to me that I
head and it was very clear to me that I
head and it was very clear to me that I was going to be the person that would
was going to be the person that would
was going to be the person that would help Rick through this period of time at
help Rick through this period of time at
help Rick through this period of time at the end of his life and so through the
the end of his life and so through the
the end of his life and so through the great fortune of Rick’s extensive
great fortune of Rick’s extensive
great fortune of Rick’s extensive community of friends a woman named
community of friends a woman named
community of friends a woman named Olivia Bear Hamm was called into his
Olivia Bear Hamm was called into his
Olivia Bear Hamm was called into his home Olivia is a deaf Midwife and she
home Olivia is a deaf Midwife and she
home Olivia is a deaf Midwife and she runs a funeral service called sacred
runs a funeral service called sacred
runs a funeral service called sacred crossings whose mission is to provide
crossings whose mission is to provide
crossings whose mission is to provide support for conscious dying through
support for conscious dying through
support for conscious dying through education and help provide home base
education and help provide home base
education and help provide home base after death care services and so
after death care services and so
after death care services and so unwittingly
unwittingly
unwittingly I became a bystander to a home funeral
I became a bystander to a home funeral
I became a bystander to a home funeral and so when Rick died in his home where
and so when Rick died in his home where
and so when Rick died in his home where he had been receiving minimal hospice
he had been receiving minimal hospice
he had been receiving minimal hospice care and been putting his affairs in
care and been putting his affairs in
care and been putting his affairs in order to his best of his ability his
order to his best of his ability his
order to his best of his ability his body remained at home it was washed and
body remained at home it was washed and
body remained at home it was washed and cared for and dressed and laid in honor
cared for and dressed and laid in honor
cared for and dressed and laid in honor by the women in his life who had left
by the women in his life who had left
by the women in his life who had left him he was then carefully transported to
him he was then carefully transported to
him he was then carefully transported to another friend’s home where we had a
another friend’s home where we had a
another friend’s home where we had a 48-hour vigil where people showed up at
48-hour vigil where people showed up at
48-hour vigil where people showed up at all hours of the day and interacted with
all hours of the day and interacted with
all hours of the day and interacted with the space freely some never leaving the
the space freely some never leaving the
the space freely some never leaving the kitchen some never going near his body
kitchen some never going near his body
kitchen some never going near his body and others were found holding his hand
and others were found holding his hand
and others were found holding his hand whispering into his ear some even sang
whispering into his ear some even sang
whispering into his ear some even sang to him some danced and some played his
to him some danced and some played his
to him some danced and some played his instruments there was a beautiful and
instruments there was a beautiful and
instruments there was a beautiful and free experience with a very present
free experience with a very present
free experience with a very present absence of a very cherished soul and I’d
absence of a very cherished soul and I’d
absence of a very cherished soul and I’d never seen or experienced anything like
never seen or experienced anything like
never seen or experienced anything like it and there were parts of it that I
it and there were parts of it that I
it and there were parts of it that I found truly terrifying and grotesque at
found truly terrifying and grotesque at
found truly terrifying and grotesque at the time and have now come to learn to
the time and have now come to learn to
the time and have now come to learn to appreciate and through it all there was
appreciate and through it all there was
appreciate and through it all there was this gentle guiding hand there was no
this gentle guiding hand there was no
this gentle guiding hand there was no under
under
under taker there was no funeral home there
taker there was no funeral home there
taker there was no funeral home there was no more there was no embalming there
was no more there was no embalming there
was no more there was no embalming there was no showing up at a set time to
was no showing up at a set time to
was no showing up at a set time to squish your grief into a certain amount
squish your grief into a certain amount
squish your grief into a certain amount of hours there was just this gentle
of hours there was just this gentle
of hours there was just this gentle guiding presence of somebody named
guiding presence of somebody named
guiding presence of somebody named Olivia and she took care of some of the
Olivia and she took care of some of the
Olivia and she took care of some of the tougher logistics and the legalities and
tougher logistics and the legalities and
tougher logistics and the legalities and the whole some of the hardest parts of
the whole some of the hardest parts of
the whole some of the hardest parts of the whole project of dying and she
the whole project of dying and she
the whole project of dying and she gently held space and created the
gently held space and created the
gently held space and created the opportunity for the people in his life
opportunity for the people in his life
opportunity for the people in his life to do things like design a funeral
to do things like design a funeral
to do things like design a funeral service that was fitting for his life
service that was fitting for his life
service that was fitting for his life and provide the support for family and
and provide the support for family and
and provide the support for family and loved ones that was needed and through
loved ones that was needed and through
loved ones that was needed and through this experience with Ric I I noticed
this experience with Ric I I noticed
this experience with Ric I I noticed something about my own grieving process
something about my own grieving process
something about my own grieving process I found that being so present for his
I found that being so present for his
I found that being so present for his death and being in the room with it and
death and being in the room with it and
death and being in the room with it and seeing it firsthand in his raw and real
seeing it firsthand in his raw and real
seeing it firsthand in his raw and real forum that I was able to engage with my
forum that I was able to engage with my
forum that I was able to engage with my grief differently
grief differently
grief differently I felt it moving through my system it
I felt it moving through my system it
I felt it moving through my system it didn’t become knotted and twisted up and
didn’t become knotted and twisted up and
didn’t become knotted and twisted up and turned into places of knots in my body
turned into places of knots in my body
turned into places of knots in my body that can turn into PTSD and have lasting
that can turn into PTSD and have lasting
that can turn into PTSD and have lasting impacts on people perhaps the experience
impacts on people perhaps the experience
impacts on people perhaps the experience of being so present for his dying
of being so present for his dying
of being so present for his dying allowed for me to grieve in a way that
allowed for me to grieve in a way that
allowed for me to grieve in a way that allowed for it not to have a detrimental
allowed for it not to have a detrimental
allowed for it not to have a detrimental lasting impact on my life there are
lasting impact on my life there are
lasting impact on my life there are amazing people in this world who are
amazing people in this world who are
amazing people in this world who are working in the death trade the hospice
working in the death trade the hospice
working in the death trade the hospice movement has revolutionized the way we
movement has revolutionized the way we
movement has revolutionized the way we are dying in North America since it
are dying in North America since it
are dying in North America since it first took off in the mid-80s more
first took off in the mid-80s more
first took off in the mid-80s more people are dying at home now than ever
people are dying at home now than ever
people are dying at home now than ever and that is the preference across the
and that is the preference across the
and that is the preference across the board aware of when people are asked
board aware of when people are asked
board aware of when people are asked where they would like to die or how they
where they would like to die or how they
where they would like to die or how they would like to die there are saintly care
would like to die there are saintly care
would like to die there are saintly care professionals providing at home care and
professionals providing at home care and
professionals providing at home care and emotional support that no medical school
emotional support that no medical school
emotional support that no medical school could possibly teach there are visionary
could possibly teach there are visionary
could possibly teach there are visionary centers like Zen hospice which openly
centers like Zen hospice which openly
centers like Zen hospice which openly encourages a dialogue around death with
encourages a dialogue around death with
encourages a dialogue around death with their patients there is research being
their patients there is research being
their patients there is research being done now to
done now to
done now to meliorate end-of-life anxiety and
meliorate end-of-life anxiety and
meliorate end-of-life anxiety and they’re finding that different practices
they’re finding that different practices
they’re finding that different practices with meditation and one study is even
with meditation and one study is even
with meditation and one study is even employing the use of psilocybin
employing the use of psilocybin
employing the use of psilocybin mushrooms to help alleviate end-of-life
mushrooms to help alleviate end-of-life
mushrooms to help alleviate end-of-life anxiety successfully terminally ill
anxiety successfully terminally ill
anxiety successfully terminally ill patients are now conducting living
patients are now conducting living
patients are now conducting living journals where their friends and
journals where their friends and
journals where their friends and families gather as they would after
families gather as they would after
families gather as they would after their death in their life to honor the
their death in their life to honor the
their death in their life to honor the person in person
person in person
person in person more and more green burial options are
more and more green burial options are
more and more green burial options are becoming available to people as people
becoming available to people as people
becoming available to people as people become more and more aware of the
become more and more aware of the
become more and more aware of the extremely environmentally toxic
extremely environmentally toxic
extremely environmentally toxic practices that embalming and our current
practices that embalming and our current
practices that embalming and our current burial practices have in our in our
burial practices have in our in our
burial practices have in our in our environment I just returned home from
environment I just returned home from
environment I just returned home from the annual Burning Man festival which
the annual Burning Man festival which
the annual Burning Man festival which hosts the most sacred space I’ve ever
hosts the most sacred space I’ve ever
hosts the most sacred space I’ve ever visited in my entire life the temple of
visited in my entire life the temple of
visited in my entire life the temple of remembrance every year an enormous
remembrance every year an enormous
remembrance every year an enormous temple is constructed and people from
temple is constructed and people from
temple is constructed and people from all over the world gather together to
all over the world gather together to
all over the world gather together to post pictures of their loved ones and to
post pictures of their loved ones and to
post pictures of their loved ones and to write notes to their loved ones who have
write notes to their loved ones who have
write notes to their loved ones who have passed and and the final day of the
passed and and the final day of the
passed and and the final day of the festival tens of thousands of people
festival tens of thousands of people
festival tens of thousands of people gather together and stand around the
gather together and stand around the
gather together and stand around the temple and watch it burn this crowd is
temple and watch it burn this crowd is
temple and watch it burn this crowd is dead silent you can hear a pin drop and
dead silent you can hear a pin drop and
dead silent you can hear a pin drop and the cathartic experience I have had
the cathartic experience I have had
the cathartic experience I have had witnessing the temple burn is unlike any
witnessing the temple burn is unlike any
witnessing the temple burn is unlike any other experience I’ve had anywhere else
other experience I’ve had anywhere else
other experience I’ve had anywhere else in the world the city of San Francisco
in the world the city of San Francisco
in the world the city of San Francisco now has one of these famed Burning Man
now has one of these famed Burning Man
now has one of these famed Burning Man temples and one of their public squares
temples and one of their public squares
temples and one of their public squares bringing this very potent space into
bringing this very potent space into
bringing this very potent space into what burners like to call the default
what burners like to call the default
what burners like to call the default world also in San Francisco I started
world also in San Francisco I started
world also in San Francisco I started attending these events called you’re
attending these events called you’re
attending these events called you’re going to die where strangers come
going to die where strangers come
going to die where strangers come together and share poetry and prose and
together and share poetry and prose and
together and share poetry and prose and personal experiences and bare their
personal experiences and bare their
personal experiences and bare their hearts and souls and have a huge amount
hearts and souls and have a huge amount
hearts and souls and have a huge amount of release that is not available to us
of release that is not available to us
of release that is not available to us in our day to day lives the uptick in
in our day to day lives the uptick in
in our day to day lives the uptick in interest and how weak and I better
interest and how weak and I better
interest and how weak and I better grieve more and grieve more productively
grieve more and grieve more productively
grieve more and grieve more productively in our society is very well timed
in our society is very well timed
in our society is very well timed between the years 2010 and 2050 the
between the years 2010 and 2050 the
between the years 2010 and 2050 the number of people who
number of people who
number of people who be who will go into Medicare willing
be who will go into Medicare willing
be who will go into Medicare willing double 284 million octone in
double 284 million octone in
double 284 million octone in octogenarians will call Drupal – 8
octogenarians will call Drupal – 8
octogenarians will call Drupal – 8 million all while the cost of funerals
million all while the cost of funerals
million all while the cost of funerals has increased over 1300 percent in the
has increased over 1300 percent in the
has increased over 1300 percent in the last four decades after I began my
last four decades after I began my
last four decades after I began my training with my mentor Olivia in death
training with my mentor Olivia in death
training with my mentor Olivia in death midwifery I called up my mother to have
midwifery I called up my mother to have
midwifery I called up my mother to have this conversation and know she doesn’t
this conversation and know she doesn’t
this conversation and know she doesn’t want me keeping her body at home and
want me keeping her body at home and
want me keeping her body at home and washing it and dressing her and laying
washing it and dressing her and laying
washing it and dressing her and laying her on dry ice in the living room these
her on dry ice in the living room these
her on dry ice in the living room these ways are not for everyone and that is
ways are not for everyone and that is
ways are not for everyone and that is okay what matters is that the
okay what matters is that the
okay what matters is that the conversation has been had there’s no one
conversation has been had there’s no one
conversation has been had there’s no one set prescription for what a good death
set prescription for what a good death
set prescription for what a good death looks like death is as individual to the
looks like death is as individual to the
looks like death is as individual to the person who lived so now I’d like to
person who lived so now I’d like to
person who lived so now I’d like to leave you with another invitation and
leave you with another invitation and
leave you with another invitation and that is to invite the conversation of
that is to invite the conversation of
that is to invite the conversation of death into your homes do you know what
death into your homes do you know what
death into your homes do you know what your parents wishes are do you know what
your parents wishes are do you know what
your parents wishes are do you know what your children’s wishes are have you
your children’s wishes are have you
your children’s wishes are have you thought about your own do you feel
thought about your own do you feel
thought about your own do you feel informed and empowered around these
informed and empowered around these
informed and empowered around these decisions can we be bold enough to walk
decisions can we be bold enough to walk
decisions can we be bold enough to walk arm-in-arm with our own mortality and to
arm-in-arm with our own mortality and to
arm-in-arm with our own mortality and to create the possibility for showing up at
create the possibility for showing up at
create the possibility for showing up at death’s door step with Lex anxiety and
death’s door step with Lex anxiety and
death’s door step with Lex anxiety and less fear and even the possibility of
less fear and even the possibility of
less fear and even the possibility of having the experience of greeting death
having the experience of greeting death
having the experience of greeting death as it comes to us my only hope for all
as it comes to us my only hope for all
as it comes to us my only hope for all of you in this room is to ask yourself
of you in this room is to ask yourself
of you in this room is to ask yourself if there is a better way to die what
if there is a better way to die what
if there is a better way to die what does that look like for you and then
does that look like for you and then
does that look like for you and then please share that share that with the
please share that share that with the
please share that share that with the ones that you love the most
ones that you love the most
ones that you love the most perhaps if we normalize this right this
perhaps if we normalize this right this
perhaps if we normalize this right this difficult conversation we can release
difficult conversation we can release
difficult conversation we can release some of the existential anxiety that the
some of the existential anxiety that the
some of the existential anxiety that the unsettling reality of death can cause
unsettling reality of death can cause
unsettling reality of death can cause maybe all of this doesn’t have to be so
maybe all of this doesn’t have to be so
maybe all of this doesn’t have to be so morbid after all perhaps we can even
morbid after all perhaps we can even
morbid after all perhaps we can even perceive a sweetness a beauty a bliss
perceive a sweetness a beauty a bliss
perceive a sweetness a beauty a bliss to death that can help us transform the
to death that can help us transform the
to death that can help us transform the traumatizing grief that so often comes
traumatizing grief that so often comes
traumatizing grief that so often comes with it into what it really is love
with it into what it really is love
with it into what it really is love thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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