Went to a celebration of life today for a dear old friend. It was very uplifting and happy. No (almost) tears or sad stories, just a ton of laughter. It made me think, we should do this BEFORE people are gone.
@Gambit_1 It’s amazing how uplifting it can be to hear personal stories about the deceased. One of my geology professors had a wonderful memorial service, but people were reluctant to step up and speak. I told a story of how he had taken us on a field trip in upstate NY, directing us down small residential streets and asking us to pull over at an unremarkable little house. He announced, with no fanfare, “that’s the house where I got married.” I told this to the delight of his widow.
@cassandra17lina exactly. I enjoy public speaking (a like too much according to my wife) and got up when others were a hesitant. It took a weight off of my shoulders. This was someone who I met as a busboy in a restaurant 25 years ago. It was cathartic to tell the small stories from years ago. Suddenly we were a room filed with laughter as others shared.
@Gambit_1 The president of our consulting company asked me and another employee to launch an internal Toastmasters Club to help our employees improve their public speaking skills. I was shocked to learn how terrified people are; evidently many surveyed nationally said that, at a funeral, they’d prefer to be the deceased than the person giving the eulogy. That’s just messed up!