“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”
— Harriet Beecher Stowe

i am having end-of-life conversations.

It is never too early to begin discussing end-of-life matters with your loved ones, though it will take time and dedication to do so. Wherever you may be in the process, here are some resources to help you begin or build on end-of-life conversations.

When we do the work for ourselves, we are better equipped to help others along the end-of-life journey.

Your personal experience may provide insight and accessibility to certain topics while also enabling you to show up for others in a more present way.

  • This video with Alua Arthur, founder of Going with Grace, articulates the importance of regularly discussing our mortality at all stages of life.

    The Death Deck is a card game that sparks lively discussions around death through creative questions (use code HERETOHONOR20 to receive a discount).

    The Conversation Project provides great resources on how to have conversations with family and friends about what you would want at end of life.

  • Looking for more? May we suggest:

    GoWish is a deck of sorting cards to help with deciding and communicating what matters most to you at end of life. Available in multiple langauges, there is also a pediatric version.

    Five Wishes helps with organizing personal, spiritual, medical, and legal wishes all in one advance care plan (ACP).

    The E•O•L (End of Life) Deck (by the makers of “The Death Deck”): cards that foster conversations about end-of-life wishes, with questions more focused and suited for situations when death seems more near. Not only is this a useful tool for families and friends but it is also beneficial for caregivers and healthcare providers (use code HERETOHONOR20 to receive a discount).

  • An end-of-life doula (or death doula) provides holistic, non-medical support for a person facing a terminal illness or death and their family. This support can include emotional, spiritual, and practical care. Here are some resources to learn more about end-of-life doulas or to find one that you may want to work with.

    International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA)

    National End-of-Life Doula Alliance (NEDA)

    All’s Well Initiative (NYC-based doula services)