I know. You might well look at the title of this week’s episode and ask, “How in the world, can doing something this morbid  produce anything that looks like joy?”

Well, there are a number of really good reasons to write your own obituary. Maybe you don’t trust the people left behind to tell the truth. Or maybe you don’t trust the people left behind because they’ll tell too much of the truth.  Writing your own obituary can be a nice gift for those left behind, because it’s one less thing for them to have to do when you change addresses.

But–in my opinion–the very best reason to write your own obituary NOW is this: It just might give you the opportunity to adjust the trajectory of your story. Looking at your life with the end in mind can teach you about how to live from here on out.

In this episode, I’ll even share a few how-to’s (in case you’re not schooled in the art of obit. writing), and share a couple samples to get you started.

Really, it can be fun and…joyful!

NOTES:

Tetrault, Sam. “How to Write an Obituary for Yourself.” https://www.joincake.com/blog/how-to-write-an-obituary-for-yourself/

Bell, Valerie Burton. She Can Laugh at the Days to Come: Strengthening the Soul for the Journey Ahead.  Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996.

Fantle Shimberg, Elaine. How to be a Successful Housewife Writer. Writers Digest Books, 1979.

Questions for Writing Your Own Obituary

1. What words would you like to describe your life?

2. What has life meant so far–and what do you want it to have meant to you at the end?

3. What are some of your favorite memories? What kinds of memories do you hope to make in the future?

4. What are some of your biggest accomplishments? What do you hope to have accomplished in the future?

5. What character traits do you want to be celebrated? What character traits would you like to be used to describe you that aren’t quite accurate…yet?

6. What legacy do you want to leave behind?