I'm dying. You are, too. With each step, breath, and word uttered, with the dawning and setting of each new day, we move closer to the hour of our death. It is our nature. We become animate with that first breath, share the common experience of human life, and die with the last exhalation. The first is instinctual, without conscious consent. The last breath belongs to us, a precious gift. At the tail-end of our commitment to life, we are offered the freedom of how to navigate that final journey: when, where, how, and with whom we die. Shall we discuss it, shall we arrange and prepare for it, or shall we forfeit this final opportunity to choose?
The first step in this process is to begin those challenging conversations, first with ourselves, and then with our loved ones, about our desire to prepare; to contemplate the reality, and then to put things in place. The truth is our death can come at any time. Ready or not. If we have not made preparations, the end may come hard and fast and be a time of great confusion, shock, and difficult and sudden decision-making. When we come to terms with the biggest truth of our lives: that each of us will die, we allow ourselves to drink in fully, every precious moment of being alive. If you ask people who have been given a terminal diagnosis, what changed for them, most often you hear that after the shock settled in, it was their greatest gift, becoming an opportunity to live each waking moment, with gratitude, wonder, compassion, and deep love.
I offer myself as a knowledgeable and compassionate consultant to help with your planning, and your family meetings. If you're an avid DIY type, you might want to navigate this on your own. I include some links below as a resource guide to get you going, as well as my hourly rates. I look forward to hearing from you!
A few things to consider: What you want! Creating an advance directive (health-care proxy, living will etc.) Choice of Standard (Funeral home) or Traditional (Home funeral) after-death care (your legal rights and responsibilities) Embalming or natural preparations Cemetery, private, or conservation-land burial Your memorial service or life celebration Setting realistic and affordable spending limits
60 minutes by phone: $65 60 minutes in person: $75
I offer modest and reasonable fees for my work. I'd like to see a good bit more of modesty and reason in the world of wellness and recovery, and this feels like a fine place to begin forwarding that trend.