Talking about death can be a tender and uncomfortable subject, but our time on earth is temporary. Someday we will all leave this world, and many of us won’t get a warning of when that will occur.
While fear may want to push us away from this topic, conversations like this one help us begin to normalize talking about death. When we bring something hard like this into the light, it starts to feel less big and scary—and a little more manageable. When we face the reality of death, we empower ourselves to live in the present, knowing what we are leaving behind: a meaningful legacy.
Helping people broach the topic of death is something that my friend, Yvette Maher, is passionate about. Yvette is an end-of-life transition coach who supports individuals and families in this sacred, yet challenging space.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How preparing for death can help us live better today
- Practical tips for getting your affairs in order
- The importance of creating your legacy in advance
- And more!
I so appreciate Yvette’s willingness to approach this difficult topic with gentleness and understanding.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Prefer to watch this episode? You can now view and subscribe to our YouTube.
- Email Yvette to access Last Writes: Capturing the Stories You are Dying to Tell
- How to Make an Everything Binder Blog Post
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) Prepare for death now. No one knows how long we have on this earth. We all hope to have many years left to enjoy, but we must remember that nothing is guaranteed. The time to have important conversations and make your wishes known is now. If you have particular hopes and preferences regarding how your estate will be handled upon your passing, it’s important to have those details communicated well in advance, as well as to complete the necessary legal paperwork.
2) Share the stories of your heart. Take some time to consider what you want to pass on and the stories that are linked to those things. There are many keepsakes that we might wish to pass on to our loved ones. However, for many of these objects, their sentimental value may not always be obvious to someone who doesn’t know the backstory. The only way our friends and family will know what makes these items so special is if we take the time to share and honor their stories.
3) Facing death helps you live life better. I don’t think anyone enjoys considering their own death, let alone planning out the finer details of their passing. But there is a relief and a certainty we experience when we have taken the time to truly face and prepare for death. Not only can we rest assured knowing our loved ones can avoid drudging through paperwork during the grieving process (because we’ve already taken care of that in advance), but we can also gain the peace of mind that comes with knowing that what we leave behind will tell our story.
About Yvette:
Yvette Maher is an end-of-life transition coach who supports individuals and families in this sacred, yet challenging space. Yvette has previous experience as an executive pastor, speaker, and author. She also served as Senior Vice President of Family Ministries and a Senior Communications Specialist at Focus on the Family. Yvette and her husband, Tom, have three grown children and several grandchildren.
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