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“A Terrible Thing Happened”
A story for children who have witnessed violence or experienced trauma.Sherman Smith saw the most terrible thing happen. At first he tried to forget about it, but soon something inside him started to bother him. Research has shown that children who have witnessed violence or trauma (known as “secondary victims”) are actually affected as strongly or worse than the primary victims. Children who have experienced…
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Hinduism: How the World’s Oldest Religion Is Not, Strictly Speaking, a Religion
Hindu death rituals are carefully defined and lovingly observedEvery culture, and every person within that culture, has a different way of dealing with death. A different set of rules, beliefs, practices, personal and societal rituals, strategies for dealing with the inevitable trauma and equally inevitable aftermath. Hinduism, the world’s oldest extant religion, is no exception. Except, perhaps, that Hinduism, strictly speaking, is not…
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Talking to Kids Facing Death
Reporter shares the stories of families who have faced this difficult conversationLast month, Chicago Tribune writer Barbara Brotman was tasked with writing a story about new research presented in Chicago on “a particularly uncomfortable subject” — how to talk to kids and teenagers about their possible death. The research found that teens do want to discuss their end-of-life wishes and be involved in decisions regarding end-of-life…
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What is Burning Man?
An explanation for those who do not know of Burning Man; our designer Emma shares her Burning Man pictures of a memorial for “Burners” to grieve and celebrate lifeAs Labor Day approaches, so does the yearly Burning Man festival in Nevada. For those who are not familiar with Burning Man, it’s an annual event where about 48,000 people come together for a week in the Nevada desert to create a temporary city called Black Rock City (or The Playa). It’s a place for…
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“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
One of Robert Frost’s most famous poems offers plenty of food for thoughtThe first time I read Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” I immediately interpreted it (as many others have) as a poem about a suicidal man reluctantly resisting the tempting thought of taking his own life. Here’s the poem in its entirety: Whose woods these are I think I know.His house is…
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Bucket Lists – Everyone Has a Bucket List!
But how many have a “gift of dying” list?Things have been really busy lately since the full launch of our site. I’m finally out from behind the computer (whew!) and am busy building a new life as well as reaching out to industry experts. It’s so great getting to meet so many amazing, smart, and kind people in end of life. Bucket lists…
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Shelves for Life
This multifunctional furniture design lasts more than a lifetime!Designer William Warren has mastered the art of multifunctional design with the Shelves for Life, a self-initiated project to further explore ideas of built-in sentimentality in our possessions. The product is designed to encourage strong emotional relationships with our belongings and to ensure life-long use. From the artist: “These shelves are designed to last you…
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Two Weeks of Life
Eleanor Clift’s memoir examines terminal illness, hospice, and the Terri Schiavo caseEleanor Clift’s husband, Tom Brazaitis, died in 2005. For years, the Newsweek journalist cared for Tom, who had been diagnosed with kidney cancer in 1999, and towards the end she took him home to spend his final days in his own bed, situated in the living room (Tom was too weak to go up the…
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“If you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.”
-Jerry Seinfeld“According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two! Does that sound right? This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” -Jerry Seinfeld
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