Magens Bay --San Thomas

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Living Funeral …


The first time I have heard about the idea of living funeral was from reading “Tuesdays with Morrie,” by Mitch Albom. Morrie, Mitch’s old professor, had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Okay. Let me digress for a moment, as I just read about this illness so I want to pass on what I have learned.

According to www.alsa.org, “A-myo-trophic comes from the Greek language. "A" means no or negative. "Myo" refers to muscle, and "Trophic" means nourishment–"No muscle nourishment." When a muscle has no nourishment, it "atrophies" or wastes away.” ASL also referred to as "Lou Gehrig's Disease.” Patients with ALS will lose their brains’ ability to initiate and control muscle movement and in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed and eventually leads to their death.

Morrie Schwartz decided to host his own living funeral after attended one and felt quite depressed and said, “What a waste.” He thought it was such a waste with all of the nice things that people said but the dead never got to hear any of it. –So, living funeral!

I am quite sold to the idea and someday, I would definitely hold one for myself unless I was called before my time –without any warning signs, then so be it! Otherwise, I am in!

I hope this journey will shed some lights to all of us, life after all is quite short so don’t wait until our loved ones/friends are gone before telling them how much they are meant to us. Each day could be a living funeral for someone and one day, it could be ours.

Until next stop,
Journey of Life

22 comments:

  1. I didn't "know you" when I posted this, but I think that you may enjoy it... http://www.feelingbeachie.com/how-sweet-it-is-to-be-loved-by-you/ While we didn't have a living funeral, we did share our feelings about each other and what we would say if we really did pass... I think that it is important to let those you are close to know how you feel about them before it is too late....

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    1. I loved it! Thank you so much Hilary for the link. I was almost burst out in tears. So touchy ... so moving. I could feel each moment from your writing ...

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    2. I agree three fold. I never saw the reason to make such a big affair for a funeral. The dead do not see or hear. Be nice and love those before they die so they can appreciate it.

      You hit it on the spot!

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    3. Thank you Sondra! I am so happy to be in agreement with you!

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  2. I totally love this idea and thought it was great when I read that book, too!

    It is so important for people to know that they are loved and what impact they have had on others... before they are dead and can't hear it said.

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  3. That's a fantastic idea, Angela. I remember reading this lovely poem called Living Bouquets a while back. I liked it so much that I shared it in a post:
    http://everydaygyaan.com/2008/03/living-bouquets-2/

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    1. Yes. It was a beautiful poem and beautiful write-up. Loved it!

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  4. ALS is called "Lou Gehrig's disease" because it's most famous face was former New York Yankee great Lou Gehrig. Gehrig was called "The Iron Horse" because he never missed a game. Not to illness, injury, or other cause. For 15 years and 2130 games, he was out there. Every day. A model of durability.

    Then one day, he felt a bit "off," and asked to be taken out of a game late one afternoon. Less than two years later, he was dead.

    I am not so sure if I would want a "living funeral." I've only been to a couple of funerals, and I think that they are mainly for the living. The problems and concerns of the deceased are over, and the funeral is a chance for those left behind to reminisce and say "good bye" to the decedent. I guess I prefer to try to remind loved ones of how important they are every day and try not to wait until the drama of "the end."

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    1. Thanks for the info, I was questioning why it was called "Lou Gehrig's disease." Now I know.

      Yes. able to express your feeling every day is even better. And remember you may be invited for one someday :-)

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  5. I think a living funeral is a great idea, although I might change the name :) New follower here.

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    1. Thanks Judy for the follow, comment and visit!-Really appreciate them!

      Let me know when you've come up with a better name. I don't quite like 'funeral' word in there ... giving me eerie feeling :-)

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  6. this is such a good reminder that we really need to impart our love and kindness in life so there is no question about how we or others will be remembered- they will know they were loved and we will be known for our goodness and love....thanks for this very interesting post!

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    1. Very true! Thanks for the insightful comment. I would take this comment back and share with my girls ...

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  7. I read that book years ago and have forgotten that. Makes sense!

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  8. P.S. my workshop linky AND my button should be working now!

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  9. Thank you, will try it again on my next break.

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  10. Tuesdays with Morrie is my favorite book. In a way, I think a living funeral would be lovely, but I think I would probably end up crying too much, listening to what everybody had to say.

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    1. Yeah ... you are so right,but then once in a lifetime, perhaps it is okay to cry a bit too much?

      The only worry I may have is either I would try to cling on the living a bit longer or a bit more than I should after knowing how much I would be meant to them. Or perhaps I could talk my out with the Death Angel telling them how much I am (were) wanted between the livings :-)

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  11. I recently attended a funeral where wonderful things were said about the deceased. It seemed a bit of a waste that no one told him these things when he was still alive.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/

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    1. Yeah ... This is exactly Morrie wanted to have his living funeral ...

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