1,428,015 views | Michelle Knox • TED@Westpac
Talk about your death while you're still healthy
Do you know what you want when you die? Do you know how you want to be remembered? In a candid, heartfelt talk about a subject most of us would rather not discuss, Michelle Knox asks each of us to reflect on our core values around death and share them with our loved ones, so they can make informed decisions without fear of having failed to honor our legacies. "Life would be a lot easier to live if we talked about death now," Knox says. "We need to discuss these issues when we are fit and healthy so we can take the emotion out of it -- and then we can learn not just what is important, but why it's important."
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Westpac. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.Do you know what you want when you die? Do you know how you want to be remembered? In a candid, heartfelt talk about a subject most of us would rather not discuss, Michelle Knox asks each of us to reflect on our core values around death and share them with our loved ones, so they can make informed decisions without fear of having failed to honor our legacies. "Life would be a lot easier to live if we talked about death now," Knox says. "We need to discuss these issues when we are fit and healthy so we can take the emotion out of it -- and then we can learn not just what is important, but why it's important."
This talk was presented at a TED Institute event given in partnership with Westpac. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
Read more about the TED Institute.About the speaker
Westpac's Michelle Knox has led large-scale transformation programs in the UK, Ireland and Australia.
Claire Leimbach, Trypheyna McShane, Zenith Virago | Allen&Unwin, 2009 | Book
The intimacy of Death and Dying
A warm, reassuring and very practical book on dealing with death and dying. This uplifting book is filled with personal stories on how to deal with the death of a loved one. Sharing experiences and practical suggestions on how to care for loved ones, talk to children about death, deal with death and honor someone’s life.
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, David Kessler | Simon & Schuster, 2005 | Book
On Grief and Grieving
There are no protocols or time frames for grief, but there are stages the grieving will go through. This book can help the reader understand the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) addressing both inner grief (your personal loss) and outer grief (anniversaries, practical matters). The final chapter addresses dealing with grief for specific circumstances such as suicide, the loss of a child, sudden death and Alzheimer’s disease.
Mal McKissock & Dianne McKissock | Harper Collins Australia, 2012 | Book
Coping with Grief, 4th Edition
This best-selling book offers sensitive and practical advice on how to deal with the grieving process, from coping with the funeral to managing anniversaries and special dates. Suitable for both the bereaved and their support team, it explains what to expect emotionally, psychologically and practically from the first day through the first year, as well as outlining the physical and emotional reactions to grief, why men and women react differently, how children deal with grief and some of the long-term consequences of bereavement. Whether you have been bereaved, or are part of the bereaved's support team, this self-help book will prove invaluable, and show you how to survive or help others survive the most challenging experience a human being can have: the loss of a loved one.
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Death Over Dinner
Conversations about End of Life Care often take place at a hospital in the midst of a crisis. Many people die in a way they wouldn’t choose, with loved ones left feeling guilty, bereaved and anxious. This website invites you to participate in the most important dinner conversation we're not having. It’s time to share your end of life wishes and plan a dinner to help others share theirs. Now is the time to plan a very special dinner, and help transform this challenging conversation into an inspiring one.
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Death Cafe
At a Death Cafe people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. Their objective is "to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their (finite) lives." A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session.
About TED Institute
Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.