Find Peace with Living & Dying - Death Education and Storytelling Gatherings in Western New York
We come to your library, community center, or park to host a safe, brave space for the tougher topics that most of us prefer to avoid.
“This is a group about and for you. Are you interested in finding out more about what makes you... you?”
Befriending Death Gatherings
Attend free community sessions on mortality to become more prepared and at peace with dying and living with intention.
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Think About It. Talk About It. Sounds simple, but it’s certainly not easy - especially when it can feel so awkward or even off limits with loved ones. We will share resources and prepare to talk the talk.
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Health Care Proxy. Living Will. Do Not Resuscitate. We will review these so that you can think about whether/how they might be right for you.
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Many of us wonder why our most important relationships are strained. Together, we will explore and practice the art of attentive listening, avoiding our impulses to interrupt or “help.” The gift of our careful attention has the potential to deepen our connections with others.
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What role does resistance to aging, illness, and death play in our suffering? What do we take for granted today that we will miss when it’s gone? We will explore this topic with courage and care.
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How would you live today if you knew it was your last? We will explore this thought experiment and think about what matters most to us.
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We will explore different traditions’ concepts of the afterlife and reflect on our own.
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Loving leads to losing, and all of us lucky enough to have loved deeply will carry the unbearable burden of grief at some point, and always ever after. We will explore this difficult and delicate topic with care.
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While most Americans report that they would prefer to die at home, relatively few do so. What if we felt more confident and capable about caring for our loved ones at home? We will explore this and share resources to support those who are interested in this type of caregiving.
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It is natural and normal to fear death, yet not all of us do. We will reflect on our personal fears or anxieties and explore perspectives and practices that bring a greater sense of peace.
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Newer options are coming available for final disposition of our remains like green burial and human composting. We will explore these alongside what we consider “traditional” burial and cremation, and share cost-saving tips for consumers.
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How do we wish to be remembered? What might we want to shift in our lives now to align more closely with our desired legacy? We will reflect on what is most important to us and share resources for preparing our obituary or legacy project.
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We’ll explore options for memorials and funerals and reflect on what we might want for ourselves or our loved ones. We’ll also share tips on being a savvy consumer!
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5 things that bring peace and soften regret: 1.Forgiveness, 2.Gratitude, 3.Love, 4.Reassurance, 5.Closure. We’ll reflect on how what matters at life’s end might guide us to live fully now.
Current Topics
Story Circles
A committed small group experience where participants meet for six sessions to share stories from their lives “that are asking to be told." Through attentive storylistening and and authentic storytelling, we discover meaning and feel truly seen and heard while building genuine community.
Wondering Walks
One-on-one or small group sessions to walk, talk, and practice tuning into our own inner truth. Participants experience the gift of attentive listening and open questions.
Our mission is to bring more connection & peace to living & dying in Western New York
Our vision is a tight-knit community where we know ourselves and show up for others with the offer of our presence.
Our approach centers on Storylistening - the practice of holding space for another as they speak their stories and discover their own truth, offering careful attention without intruding with impulses to interrupt, save, fix, or advise.
It builds a sense of trust, connection, and self-knowledge that is lifegiving for all.
A Storied Life hosts our programs in-person at local libraries and community centers. We offer a safe, brave space to explore our shared mortality, speak the stories that make us who we are, and feel seen and heard by others - a rare experience for many of us.
We believe that by offering the gift of our careful attention and gentle presence, each of us has the power to heal and connect our relationships, our communities, and our world. It’s that simple and profound.
“Don’t miss your chance to live the way you wish you would have.”