Conscious Living, Conscious Dying: Aging with Grace, November 9, 1-4pm
Whether they “bit the big one,” “met their maker,” or “breathed their last,” the result is the same: someone died.
But many people don’t want to think about death, let alone discuss it, whether it’s our own or someone else’s. And when we do, it’s easier to couch death in euphemisms. The choices range from reassuring to religious to somewhere near the absurd and it remains a scary subject for many. But can avoiding talk about death impact the quality of how we live? This year, Viva Village’s signature event, Aging with Grace, will address Conscious Living, Conscious Dying as panelists explore how accepting our mortality allows us to live a fuller life.
Lately, discussions about death are generating a lot of buzz among gerontologists, social workers, and other healthcare providers. Just note the emergence of “Death Cafes” and read some of the numerous articles in many reputable journals. People are asking: what should I know about my own death and how can I live with purpose knowing I will die someday?
Learn how to start the conversation about death and discover what we can gain from those conversations. Join Viva Village on November 9, 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Southminster Presbyterian Church.
The panel discussion will be moderated by Holly Pruett, life-cycle celebrant.
Panelists and their topics include:
- Jennifer Traeger (hospice program director) will talk about cultural aversions to talking about death and how to know what’s important to us in our last moments
- Jo Laurence (chaplain) will invite us to ponder how we address our own death/dying and how we can be present for those who are close to it
- Nancy Linnon (writer, teacher, death doula) will discuss how we can do the work of living and dying consciously.
For information and registration go to vivavillage.org or call Viva Village at 503-746-5082. Members and volunteers attend free, guests $10. Viva Village is a Beaverton-area grassroots organization of members and volunteers who enhance and expand the ways we can age well. We provide connections, programs, volunteer services, and referrals so members can lead engaged, healthy lives.
Viva Village is a member of the Villages NW Hub and Spoke Nonprofit Network.
