D2KDay – 8 August 2019

DTK Day is on 8th August 2019. To quote the Dying to Know Day website "Too many of us are dying in a way not consistent with our values or wishes. Too often, we feel ill-equipped to support loved ones who are dying, caring or grieving. Dying to Know Day is designed to change this by activating conversations and curiosity."

Have you ever spoken with your family about your wishes for the end of your life?  Dying to Know Day is coming up on 8 August and is a time to start a conversation about death, dying and bereavement. 

What is D2KDay?

This yearly event encourages individuals, families and communities to learn more about death and dying.  Death is often a topic that we avoid in everyday conversation and in general as a community.  However, death comes to us all.  In our lifetime we can expect to be affected by death and dying, and we know that one day we will reach the end of our own life. 

Dying to Know Day aims to raise awareness of these issues so that we can all be better prepared, and cope better with death and dying. 

What could I do?

For starters, have a conversation with your family and friends about death.  How do you want to be cared for at the end of your life?  What should your funeral look like?  Tell people what you would like and ask those near and dear to you how they would like their wishes respected when they die. 

There are several ways you can plan ahead including writing an advance care directive (living will), recording your personal story or planning your own funeral. 

Get involved – during August there will be events in local communities focussed on getting the conversation started.  You could go to a death café, workshop, art exhibition or community talk. 

How civil celebrants can help

For starters, have a conversation with your family and friends about death.  How do you want to be cared for at the end of your life?  What should your funeral look like?  Tell people what you would like and ask those near and dear to you how they would like their wishes respected when they die. 

There are several ways you can plan ahead including writing an advance care directive (living will), recording your personal story or planning your own funeral. 

Get involved – during August there will be events in local communities focussed on getting the conversation started.  You could go to a death café, workshop, art exhibition or community talk. 

Civil Celebrants can provide meaningful, individualised ceremonies for funerals and memorial services, ‘living tributes’ or remembrance days.  Celebrants also offer personal consultations for funeral planning or writing your life story.  Celebrants are happy to talk to community groups about any of these topics including the role of celebrants in funerals and memorials, planning ceremonies or recording your life story. 

TCN is supporting D2KDay and several TCN celebrants are holding events in August.  For more information see the TCN website or go to the Dying to Know Day website for lots of useful resources. 

URL:  https://www.dyingtoknowday.org