We have been exploring issues and concerns about how we die in America. For the most part, our focus has been end-of-life care and treatment decisions. Some of our readings have discussed how certain decisions that surround our death may not result in a good death. It is now time for us to explore our own feelings about our mortality.
For this discussion, express your thoughts in a journal-like entry. This reflection is less formal than a discussion post, but it is still important to try to tie in topics, themes, and ideas introduced in the module. You will be grading your own reflection pieces throughout these modules.
Death is not a topic most of us like to think about, especially our own death. By now you have had a chance to read, watch, and contemplate a variety of media that deal with the concept of death and what an “ideal” death could look like. It would be nice at this stage of the course if we could come together in real time as a class at a cafe and order coffee over which to discuss our concerns, wonderings, fears, and plans regarding our mortal condition, and our inevitable death.
Consider this discussion area our virtual café. Choose at least one of the questions below, and write a reflection piece in which you explore your own feelings about death, how death is treated in our culture, and/or whether contemplating death causes us to try to live better lives.
How is death conventionally viewed or approached in our culture? According to what you’ve read, what prevents us from having a good death? Cite specific examples in your response from the readings, video, and podcast.
When you think about your own death or the death of one of your family members or friends, what are, or have been, the greatest fears and concerns? Tie in specific examples from the readings, video, and podcast in your response.
At the end of the NPR story, Death Cafes Breathe Life Into Conversations About Dying,Links to an external site. the narrator states “And as the death cafe movement expands, talking about everything from advanced care directives to grieving rituals, it ends up being about not so much how we die but how we live.” Do you agree or not? Please explain your reasoning and include specific references to the learning materials in your response. How do death cafes help people to think about death and perhaps thereby improve their lives? What specific actions can you take now that will lead you to a good death and to living life more fully?
Initial posts must be a minimum of 250 words.