Write your own obituary...

[jeepgirl]

I was just watching Oprah today, and was intrigued by a lady on the show. She said when she turned 30 she decided to write her own obituary as though she had lived for 70/80 years. She wanted to imagine what would be written about her after her life had been lived. The experience altered the decisions she made the following couple of years, and she continues to update her obituary as her goals grow and change. I thought the concept was full of depth and so am curious what others would write in their own "someday" obituaries at this stage, whatever stage of life they are in today.

Here's the excerpt about this on the Oprah web page:

http://images.oprah.com/images/tows/200701/20070125/20070125_112_284x218.jpg

When Jennifer turned 30, she decided to live her life with no regrets. Her first move? Writing her own obituary. "I wrote my obituary just like if I died tomorrow," she says. "Then I pretended I was an 80-year-old woman looking back at my life, and I didn't want to have any regrets. So being older, looking back, what would I change?" Jennifer says writing the obituary led to her decision to become a stay-at-home mom for her two kids.

In her obit, Jennifer describes her life: "I often wore a smile on my face. I loved people and did not know how to hate. I learned to live my life authentically, and received my satisfaction and joy from watching my children grow, and I am so very proud of them for being themselves and having such caring and loving hearts." Jennifer says one good thing about writing your own obituary is learning to say good things about yourself. "If you say positive things about yourself, you want to make sure you're living that life."

Jennifer says she updates her obituary often, and as she tells Oprah, "I'm going to update it when I get home, because my dream of 20 years was to meet you!"






So anyone want to take a stab at writing their own obituary and share???

[kalogrias]

I had to do this as a writing assignment in 5th grade. My teacher was a little weird (not that the concept is weird, but who asks 10 year old to imagine themselves dying and looking back?). I should dig it out -- as strange as it was, it was a good project (or it would have been 5 years later!).

[Standrea]

I had to do this as a writing assignment in 5th grade. My teacher was a little weird (not that the concept is weird, but who asks 10 year old to imagine themselves dying and looking back?). I should dig it out -- as strange as it was, it was a good project (or it would have been 5 years later!).


You know, I remember doing this in highschool. I'm going to have to go to my parents house and see if they still have it. It will be fun to see how much has changed in 10 years!

[artist]

I seriously DOUBT this is what it would look like, but in my fantasy land, it would maybe say something like this:

Lastname, Firstname Age [??] of St. Paul, MN, formerly of Minneapolis, MN died suddenly on Month, ??, 2??? of a heart attack in her home while signing her last ever painting. Her family was over for brunch and mimosas when this happened. She is preceded in death by [?????????] and survived by [??????????] and [pets]. Her heart attack came on suddenly after being told that one of her paintings which has been shown at the MOMA recently was purchased at a Sotheby’s auction by a member of the Dayton family for two and a half million dollars. She died with a smile on her face and paint in her hair. Her organs are being donated and her body is being cremated and sprinkled at Artist Point (Lake Superior) in Grand Marais, MN. Ms. Lastname was passionate woman who cared deeply about animals, the environment, poverty, social justice, and politics. Her life included serving as a VISTA volunteer, board member to [organization], campaign manager for [unknown candidate], director of [unknown nonprofit organization], founder of [unknown arts coorperative], Jerome and McKnight grant recipient, Bush fellowship recipient, gallery owner of [?????] Gallery in St. Paul, MN, and member of [church]. In addition to spending time with her beloved family, Ms. Lastime relaxed in her later years traveling around the world. Her last trip was to Paris. A memorial is to take place in the Minneapolis Sculpture Gardens near Frank Ghery’s sculpture Standing Glass Fish. Following the service, a vegetarian luncheon will take place at Frank Stone Gallery and will include a retrospective of Ms. Lastname’s work. Memorials may be sent to Springboard for the Arts, Animal Ark No Kill Shelter, Catholic Charities, DFL Party, [name of church], [this list could change], etc.


Either way, I like the idea of having a funeral that isn't super "funeral" like. I like the concept of having my funeral include an art show. Art is such a major part of my life and I'd rather have people remember me for what I loved as opposed to weeping over an embalmed corpse. After reading over what I just wrote, I'd be happy if I accomplished even half of what I just wrote before I die! But it doesn't hurt to dream. :)

[BTB]

I had this as a writing assignment in a career development course last year. The creepy thing is, we had to choose our own date of death - that's what I had the hardest time with out of the whole assignment. I'll have to *ahem* dig it up. ;)

[artist]

I had this as a writing assignment in a career development course last year. The creepy thing is, we had to choose our own date of death - that's what I had the hardest time with out of the whole assignment. I'll have to *ahem* dig it up. ;)

That's a bit goth!

[KrissyCat7]

That's pretty cool. I think I will take a stab at writing my own. My mom wrote hers about 15 years ago....I remember thinking it was strange but now that I'm older I see the value in it.

[jeepgirl]

posted by artist: After reading over what I just wrote, I'd be happy if I accomplished even half of what I just wrote before I die! But it doesn't hurt to dream.


Absolutely. How does that saying go? Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll still land among the stars...