Planning your own funeral may not be something you've ever considered, but making your wishes known can be one of the greatest gifts you leave for the people you love. A funeral often has to be arranged within just a few days, at a time when family and friends are grieving and trying to make difficult decisions. Planning ahead can provide peace of mind for you, and thoughtful guidance for those who will one day have to say goodbye.

It sounds like a simple question, but our names, roles, relationships, and responsibilities only tell part of our story. Throughout our lives, we carry many different identities—and when we experience a significant loss or life change, we may find ourselves questioning who we are now. In this reflective piece, I explore identity, grief, change, and the many versions of ourselves that shape who we become.

When someone we love is grieving or going through something difficult, our instinct is often to find the right words—to comfort, reassure, or somehow make things better. But sometimes there are no words that can make things better, and that's okay. This reflective piece explores the power of simply being present with someone in their pain, and why “I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say” might sometimes be exactly the right thing to say.

In the final hours of Kevin's life, time seemed to slow down. Surrounded by music, love, and the quiet presence of those who had promised he would never be left alone, each breath became its own moment. Through the steady ticking of his watch, this deeply personal reflection explores the strange, suspended hours surrounding death—and the precious moments of care, connection, and tenderness that can remain with us long afterwards.

Grief can be a lonely journey, even when you are surrounded by people who love and support you. Sometimes, what we need most is to find others who understand the experience from the inside—not simply through empathy, but through having lived it themselves. This personal reflection explores grief, belonging, and the unexpected comfort of finding a community of people who “just get it”, reminding us that even in the deepest loneliness, our tribe may be waiting for us.

We often mark the “first things” in life—the first steps, first kiss, first day of school—but we don't tend to think as much about the last things. In this deeply personal reflection, I explore how the death of my husband, Kevin, changed the way I understand those final moments and memories. What began as a journey through grief ultimately became the first step on a new path, leading me towards celebrancy and end-of-life work.

A room full of strangers, a table covered in tea, coffee, cake—and conversations about death. A Death Café might sound like an unusual way to spend an evening, but as this reflection explores, talking openly about death can lead to laughter, connection, vulnerability, and some surprisingly meaningful conversations about life. Because when we face the fact that life is finite, we may find ourselves paying closer attention to how we want to live it.