Comments on: How writing obituaries can change your life dramatically http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/ feeding your inner rebel Tue, 15 May 2012 05:18:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Katie http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/#comment-1400 Katie Sat, 29 May 2010 02:58:00 +0000 http://beanoriginal.net/?p=1248#comment-1400 Wow, not what I thought your article was about at all. I thought you were going to talk about someone who writes them for a living, but no, it's about writing our own. I haven't done it but did once write a letter to myself, as if I were an old woman and talking to my younger self. It was an amazing exercise, very supportive and full of letting go worry. Inhabiting our future, even if it is our death, is a kind of summing up. In that moment we can see if that sum is enough and makes changes if it's not. It's almost like getting a second chance. Cool idea. Wow, not what I thought your article was about at all. I thought you were going to talk about someone who writes them for a living, but no, it’s about writing our own. I haven’t done it but did once write a letter to myself, as if I were an old woman and talking to my younger self. It was an amazing exercise, very supportive and full of letting go worry. Inhabiting our future, even if it is our death, is a kind of summing up. In that moment we can see if that sum is enough and makes changes if it’s not. It’s almost like getting a second chance. Cool idea.

]]> By: Lodewijk http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/#comment-1397 Lodewijk Fri, 28 May 2010 21:42:24 +0000 http://beanoriginal.net/?p=1248#comment-1397 People grow and change, Jean. You just found out that you grew a lot ;-) There's no point in talking yourself down, even a past version of yourself. Your cumulative past has made you into the wonderful person you are today. People grow and change, Jean. You just found out that you grew a lot ;-) There’s no point in talking yourself down, even a past version of yourself. Your cumulative past has made you into the wonderful person you are today.

]]> By: Lodewijk http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/#comment-1396 Lodewijk Fri, 28 May 2010 21:39:28 +0000 http://beanoriginal.net/?p=1248#comment-1396 Hi Jarkko! It pretty much is the same exercise, but a little less scary for a lot of people! Fear of death is definitely a factor that plays a role in the willingness of people to do (or not do) the obituary exercise. I agree that you should do it every couple of years to re-align. Life changes and so do people, and your results may change over time too. The family is doing great :-) The kids sure are growing, Esmee has already had her first birthday. Time flies, but I'm loving it all the way! Hi Jarkko!

It pretty much is the same exercise, but a little less scary for a lot of people! Fear of death is definitely a factor that plays a role in the willingness of people to do (or not do) the obituary exercise.

I agree that you should do it every couple of years to re-align. Life changes and so do people, and your results may change over time too.

The family is doing great :-) The kids sure are growing, Esmee has already had her first birthday. Time flies, but I’m loving it all the way!

]]> By: Jean Sarauer http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/#comment-1388 Jean Sarauer Thu, 27 May 2010 11:39:59 +0000 http://beanoriginal.net/?p=1248#comment-1388 I agree with the previous commenter that it would be useful to do this exercise several times over one's life. I had done it quite a number of years ago in a seminar and ran across it in a notebook recently. I sure was a shallow person back when I wrote that. :) I agree with the previous commenter that it would be useful to do this exercise several times over one’s life. I had done it quite a number of years ago in a seminar and ran across it in a notebook recently. I sure was a shallow person back when I wrote that. :)

]]> By: Jarkko Laine http://beanoriginal.net/how-writing-obituaries-can-change-your-life-dramatically/#comment-1387 Jarkko Laine Thu, 27 May 2010 10:34:43 +0000 http://beanoriginal.net/?p=1248#comment-1387 I don't think I've ever written my obituary, but I once did the exercise of writing down what I hope my loved ones would tell me in a speech for my 80th birthday. It was somewhat similar to this, although I suppose an obituary would be even more powerful. And also, I guess this is something you shouldn't do just once but over and over again at specific times in your life, maybe once each year, to see if you are on the right track... Thanks for the reminder, Lodewijk! And how's your family doing? Your kids have must grown quite a bit since we last talked? :) I don’t think I’ve ever written my obituary, but I once did the exercise of writing down what I hope my loved ones would tell me in a speech for my 80th birthday. It was somewhat similar to this, although I suppose an obituary would be even more powerful.

And also, I guess this is something you shouldn’t do just once but over and over again at specific times in your life, maybe once each year, to see if you are on the right track…

Thanks for the reminder, Lodewijk! And how’s your family doing? Your kids have must grown quite a bit since we last talked? :)

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