Date with Death Club
September 24 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm
What do we actually mean by the word death? The word conjures up a host of vague and troubling thoughts and emotions. At the literal level, we recognize death by such obvious physical signs as the heart stopping, the body not moving, the cessation of breathing, or flat lines on a screen. But that is only a small fraction of what the word death evokes. Beyond that very literal understanding of death, we have all sorts of theories of what death is really about and all sorts of hopes and fears about it. We need to take a deep look at those hopes and fears and ask ourselves what exactly is it that we fear, and what exactly are those hopes? The point of such questioning is not to come up with some “correct” view of death. Instead, the point is to examine our own assumptions and beliefs, whatever they may be – Judy Lief
What if talking about death could help us live more fully?
Death is something we all encounter, yet our culture often encourages us to avoid talking about it. This program offers a space to do the opposite: to become more comfortable talking about mortality, dying, grief, aging, and the many questions that surround the end of life.
Through conversation, reflection, poetry, guest speakers, and practical exploration, we’ll engage both the big questions and the practical ones
- What makes a good life—and a good death?
- How do we want to approach aging and our own mortality?
- What do different traditions believe happens after we die?
- How can we prepare for the end of life?
- What choices do we have about our care, our bodies, and our memorials?
Sessions balance philosophical and spiritual reflection with informational and logistical content, along with humor and earnest regard for the topic of mortality. While this is not a support group, it is a space to be curious, share what you’re comfortable sharing, learn from one another, and have honest conversations about something we all have in common: being mortal.
Date with Death Club is a secular, non-dogmatic exploration of mortality in community. It is open to adults -both memebers and the wider public. No particular religious belief or experience is needed, and you don’t need to attend every session. Come for a single conversation or join us throughout the series, and drop-ins are welcome. However, we strongly encourage everyone to attend the first session as a way to begin getting comfortable talking about death and to establish a foundation for the conversations we’ll share throughout the program.
By facing the reality of our mortality, we may discover new possibilities for living a more intentional and meaningful life.
Session Themes:
- Sep 10: Getting Comfortable with Death Talk
- Sep 24: Dying, Death, Poetry
- Oct 8: Good Life & Good Death
- Oct 22: Resistance & Acceptance: The Mortal Dance
- Nov 12: Aging: Better Than the Alternative
- Dec 10: Grief: Loving & Losing, Learning & Living
- Jan 14: Afterlife / Afterlives
- Jan 28: Facing Extinction: Processing Eco-Grief
- Feb 11: Owning Your Dying
- Feb 25: Hospice, Palliative Care, & End-of-Life Documents, Oh My!
- Mar 11: Medical Aid in Dying / Death with Dignity
- Apr 8: What to Do with a Dead Body?
- Apr 22: Planning Your Own Memorial Service
- May 13: Writing Your Own Obituary
*Please note: there are no sessions on November 26, December 24, or March 25.
