What is your gut reaction to the title of this post?
What do you think about building your own coffin?
Are you sitting there thinking that’s not only crazy, but a bit morbid? Or are you thinking-hey-that’s not such a bad idea…
My gut reaction is why not? Why not plan for death?
Writing an obituary for your loved one after their death is quite possibly one of the hardest tasks to do well.
First of all, one tends to be in a the midst of being consumed by grief, with emotions running all over the map, taking over any ability to think clearly or rationally, much less putting more than two accurate sentences together in a meaningful way.
Are you feeling gleeful today?
Do you have a skip in your step? Are you snapping your fingers and tapping your toes?
It must be the vernal equinox at play marking a shift in the way we feel.
Sorting through and parting with your loved one’s personal items after their death is possibly one of the hardest tasks to do…ever.
Nothing really prepares you for the emotional challenge of deciding what to keep and what not to.
Here's a sneak preview of the cover of the forthcoming book: "The LastingMatters Organizer". Maria Shriver recently posted my story titled "Even Healthy People Should Keep Their Affairs in Order" in her "Inspirational Stories from Architects of Change" section of Maria's website at www.MariaShriver.com.
People hide money all the time.
The hard part is knowing if or where your loved one has hidden money when they die. A well thought out hiding place is rarely communicated... to anyone...
And so, when someone dies, it is not uncommon when cleaning out desk drawers, sifting through piles of clothes stuffed in a bureau, or sorting through the multitude of boxes stored in the attic or basement, that you might come across some hidden treasures.
Who is responsible for paying off the balance of the credit cards after the death of a loved one? And what about the mortgage loan? Not that you had anything else on your grief stricken mind when your loved one dies...but do you know the answers?
It is difficult coming up with a topic related to planning for end-of-life and death when it is Valentine's Day.
After all, the media focuses on love stories, and chocolates and flowers-not funerals, terminal illness or tragic deaths. Yet, love does show up sometimes in mysterious ways. Even when death is involved.
This story is a love story -as well as the death of two lovebirds.
This post is about a father who has a special message to give his daughter.
Each and every day.
One thing people rarely, if ever, think about is what happens when the one and only funeral home on any given island (this one happens to be located 30 miles out to sea), closes its doors and terminates its service to the island community forever. Several newspapers in December 2013 heralded the story of what would become of those who happened to die while they are either visiting, vacationing, or are permanent residents of Nantucket Island- also known as the "Grey Lady".