I was recently called an expert in death and dying. I thought that was pretty funny. I’m not an expert in death and dying. As far as I know, I’m still in this body talking through this mouth, so I haven’t done it yet. What I am is somebody who’s been around dying a lot. I’ve been with plenty of people as they are dying. I’ve also been with people as they’re contemplating the end of their lives through end-of-life planning consultations, through death meditations, people working through their death anxiety. Certainly teaching students in the death of the training program how to be with dying. But to die myself, I ain’t done it yet.

Every single time I think I know something about dying and I walk into a client’s house, they humble me real quick. Cause my job is to honor their unique lived experience. I can’t bring all the rest to it. Each death has to be like the very first one. I have to stay curious about who they are and what the condition is so I can properly support them in their experience.

What I am is an expert in truffle fries. Don’t try me there. Thank you for giving me a minute of your life to think about the end of it.

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