"Outsourcing death"

Like most things in today's world, we've gotten used to using vendors or outsourcing various duties to service-providers. Many of us hire people to clean our home, people to walk our dogs, and rely pretty consistently on pre-determined meal/grocery deliveries. It's just the way of the world now.

And in this mentality, many people would say that we also relegate the decisions we make to other professionals as well. Makeup artists, fashion designers, and hair stylists come to mind - who am I to say what looks better when they've done this their entire career? I defer completely.

Death is no exception.

The creator of the Death Café movement (Jon Underwood) has been quoted as saying that he initiated the movement because in his viewpoint, western society has become used to outsourcing our death discussions to those 'more qualified': medical professionals like doctors and nurses, or those involved in the funeral process like religious clergy and undertakers. According to Underwood, we've completely lost any remaining idea of involvement in the gravest of life discussions (pun intended).

I completely agree with Underwood. I think we figure that we don't have the expertise, so why bother talking about it? Why even bother considering it? But, the whole idea of the death café movement is that death is an individual experience. The talk isn't meant for the others in the room. It is talking, to encourage introspection and consideration of our own path, preferences, beliefs, and wishes.

And no one else will be an expert in our death narrative. It is for you and you alone. And for this reason, we really should start to consider what that narrative will look like.