Morbid
Cadet
Hi all,
So I'm giving a talk at one of the Universities here entitled "Lets Talk About Death". If I can, let me run it past you and see what y'all think. (I should preface by saying it's to a class of seniors who are finishing up their health-care-related degrees, everything from dentistry to morticians)
"Good morning! My name is Alton and it's an absolute pleasure to be here. I want to welcome all of you to the health care industry. I'm not your typical "health care" professional, because I am a Mortician. I've been involved with the industry since I wase nine. My grandfather owned the funeral home that I now own. I spent my summers growing up learning how to care for the dead and their families. I've been invited to talk to all of you about, well, death.
My grandfather used to tell me two things: the first being that "we mustn't fear death, for it is natural. It is the next step in life. For what is alive, must die." And at the tender age of nine, I had no idea what he was talking about. Then when I was twelve, my best friend in the World was killed in a car accident. After my time of grieving I finally understood what my grandfather was telling me. Death is part of the circle of life. That stuck with me a long time. I think in the funeral industry, we have a different understanding of death, because we see it every day.
And in reality, all of us in this room, including those of you going into the funeral industry or medical examiners, etc, all care for the living. All of us. Uncle Bob doesn't care what color his suit is when he comes to the funeral home. Nor does Aunt Sally care if her dress is on backwards. So why do we go through the effort? For the living. The dead that come to the funeral home are usually followed by loved ones, friends, and family. So we go through the effort to care for the living.
The other thing that my grandfather told me was that death will come for all of us, and it will come on its time, not ours. We don't have a choice in the matter. All of us in this room will at some point face death in our careers or in our personal life. A friend, a coworker, a patient. And for those of you who have the task of trying to ward off death, I admire you. For your task is greater than you know. Do your best, and worry not if someone doesn't make it. Because death comes on its terms and time, not ours.
Everyone in the World has at least one thing in common: our time on this Earth is finite. But I don't want you to be afraid of death. But rather, I want you to be prepared for death. Both of someone you know, and your own. I want you to have the maturity in your fields of work to know that at some point, no matter your efforts, you will loose a patient. I want you to do your best, and take comfort in the knowledge that you did your best. I also want you to have the maturity to tell yourself "I am mortal. I will someday die. What do I want done?" It's a tough conversation to have with yourselves, but I highly recommend it. Have the maturity to sit down and write out a plan of action for your death.
This plan can be as broad or as specific as you like. Mine is thirty pages long and outlines everything down to the last detail. Doing this will help you, and it will help your loved ones. Then give it to a handful or two of people you trust. Update it every so often.
But most importantly, I want you to have the courage to live. To go skydiving, to do crazy things you're afraid of. Because ultimately, death will come.
Thank you."
So I'm giving a talk at one of the Universities here entitled "Lets Talk About Death". If I can, let me run it past you and see what y'all think. (I should preface by saying it's to a class of seniors who are finishing up their health-care-related degrees, everything from dentistry to morticians)
"Good morning! My name is Alton and it's an absolute pleasure to be here. I want to welcome all of you to the health care industry. I'm not your typical "health care" professional, because I am a Mortician. I've been involved with the industry since I wase nine. My grandfather owned the funeral home that I now own. I spent my summers growing up learning how to care for the dead and their families. I've been invited to talk to all of you about, well, death.
My grandfather used to tell me two things: the first being that "we mustn't fear death, for it is natural. It is the next step in life. For what is alive, must die." And at the tender age of nine, I had no idea what he was talking about. Then when I was twelve, my best friend in the World was killed in a car accident. After my time of grieving I finally understood what my grandfather was telling me. Death is part of the circle of life. That stuck with me a long time. I think in the funeral industry, we have a different understanding of death, because we see it every day.
And in reality, all of us in this room, including those of you going into the funeral industry or medical examiners, etc, all care for the living. All of us. Uncle Bob doesn't care what color his suit is when he comes to the funeral home. Nor does Aunt Sally care if her dress is on backwards. So why do we go through the effort? For the living. The dead that come to the funeral home are usually followed by loved ones, friends, and family. So we go through the effort to care for the living.
The other thing that my grandfather told me was that death will come for all of us, and it will come on its time, not ours. We don't have a choice in the matter. All of us in this room will at some point face death in our careers or in our personal life. A friend, a coworker, a patient. And for those of you who have the task of trying to ward off death, I admire you. For your task is greater than you know. Do your best, and worry not if someone doesn't make it. Because death comes on its terms and time, not ours.
Everyone in the World has at least one thing in common: our time on this Earth is finite. But I don't want you to be afraid of death. But rather, I want you to be prepared for death. Both of someone you know, and your own. I want you to have the maturity in your fields of work to know that at some point, no matter your efforts, you will loose a patient. I want you to do your best, and take comfort in the knowledge that you did your best. I also want you to have the maturity to tell yourself "I am mortal. I will someday die. What do I want done?" It's a tough conversation to have with yourselves, but I highly recommend it. Have the maturity to sit down and write out a plan of action for your death.
This plan can be as broad or as specific as you like. Mine is thirty pages long and outlines everything down to the last detail. Doing this will help you, and it will help your loved ones. Then give it to a handful or two of people you trust. Update it every so often.
But most importantly, I want you to have the courage to live. To go skydiving, to do crazy things you're afraid of. Because ultimately, death will come.
Thank you."