In our conversation with Amy Schiller, a social worker and professor who specializes in the field of death and dying, we start to unpack the myth of the “Good Death.” Amy talks about letting go of control in the dying process, and how becoming aware of our fears and beliefs about dying can impact our lives, and allow us to live more fully. Amy offers her students the opportunity to write Legacy Letters, and suggests everyone consider their own Advance Directives for when the end of life comes. Constance shares the many ways she is trying to practice and “rightsize” her own deep fears about death and dying, and Lori opens up to the possibility of an Afterlife.

And don’t forget to hang around for our “After Thoughts” where Lori and Constance unpack the episode and chat about our thoughts on what we heard, and where we have started “Listener Shout-Outs,” and episode-based Challenges for our listeners.

SHOW NOTES:

The CHALLENGE for this episode is to complete one of the exercises discussed - a Legacy Letter, some Death Cleaning, a Death Meditation and let us know how it went :)

Find out more about Amy Schiller

Amy's Blog

Dying Well by Ira Byock

Rightsize your Fears by Mark Nepo

The Fifth Season, Mark Nepo

Death Meditation with Ajahn Nisabho

Going with Grace, Alua Arthur

Legacy Letter

Advice for Future Corpses Sallie Tisdale

Death Cleaning

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter

Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan

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Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. Eleanor Roosevelt