Is a life skill.
“The only certainty in life is that it will end. Yet, it is one of the few certainties we learn how to navigate.”
From the moment we are born, we are learning. We learn to connect with those who are taking care of us, they smile, we smile. We reach out for them and through the sense of touch, we grasp the safety in that. We learn to crawl, walk and ultimately get on the treadmill of experiences from which we navigate the world.
Few of us, however, were ever taught about how to understand death, support someone who is dying, make informed end-of-life decisions or even cope with the myriad of ways in which grief surfaces. This is where death literacy comes in.
Death literacy isn’t about becoming an expert in dying. It’s about developing skills, knowledge and confidence to participate in the conversation and become self-assured enough to engage with one of life’s most universal experiences. Just as health literacy equips us to make better informed medical decisions, death literacy helps us face mortality with less fear and greater understanding.
What is Death Literacy?
Death literacy is the ability to understand and navigate the emotional, practical, cultural and spiritual aspects that come with death and dying. It means knowing how to:
- Talk openly about death with your loved ones.
- Make informed decisions about advance care planning.
- Support someone during the dying process.
- Be aware of different forms of grief and bereavement.
- Appreciate the diversity of culture, faith, and spirituality through which death is experienced.
- Foster conversations about living wills and healthcare proxies.
Why do we need Death Literacy?
In some societies the topic of death is veiled in silence, secrecy and fear. Conversations about mortality are typically postponed until it’s too late, when a crisis leaves little time for thoughtful discussion. This results in critical decisions being made under duress and unnecessary anxiety, simply because the topic is so unfamiliar to many.
Paradoxically, learning about death and dying can change the way we live. Being able to appreciate that tomorrow is not promised, grounds us in living each day fully, or at least as many days as possible with clarity and intention. When we acknowledge that life is finite, our priorities become clearer and every day is extraordinary. That awareness can be the compass that guides us to a more meaningful life.
Lifting the Shroud
The mission of Unveiling the Shroud is not to make death appear to be less significant. Death remains one of life’s greatest mysteries. It is a sorrowful and a most profound experience, since no one ever returns to tell of what lies beyond. Unveiling the Shroud seeks to lift the veil of fear, silence and avoidance so as to shed light on these very important and critical conversations.
“Here’s to living life more fully, as we embrace conversations about its end.”
Reflection
What conversations have you been postponing?
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