Have the Talk of a Lifetime
Share the stories that matter most to you and your loved ones with the Have the Talk of a Lifetime program. Have the Talk of a Lifetime was designed to help families share meaningful memories and stories with each other. By framing the discussion around a person’s life story and experiences, we get the opportunity to connect on a deeper level with them.
Why is having the talk of a lifetime important?
Although we might have daily conversations with our loved ones, the most meaningful and deep ones don’t always happen. Having this kind of conversation can make a huge difference — it can help us see our loved ones in a different and more positive light, it can teach us valuable lessons, it can give us a clearer picture of the things they love, it can bring us closer together, and it can help us reaffirm to them how much we love them.
Who should have the talk?
We could have the talk of a lifetime with anyone we value, cherish, and love. It could be our grandparents, our parents, our siblings, our uncles and aunts, our cousins, our spouse, our children, our grandparents, or our friends. It also doesn’t have to be done only when we feel we are or someone we love is at the end of their life. We’ll never really know what the future holds, so let us take the opportunities we still have with them while we still can.
How do we start the talk?
We shouldn’t really wait for a special moment to start having these kinds of talks. We can do it anytime and anywhere, when we and our loved ones are comfortable — at home while we’re having meals together,out for a walk, gathered as a family, or playing games.
We could also sometimes start with visual prompts, like a photo or an entire photo album, a memento, or a souvenir. We can open up about past experiences while we’re at memorable place, such as a church, a favorite restaurant, or an old park. These can be great ways to start a story.
May we always treasure every moment of our lives and have meaningful conversations with the ones we love.
Below are some links to free resources that you can download and use to start having meaningful conversations with those you love:
Have the Talk of a Lifetime is an outreach program and is sponsored by the Funeral and Memorial Information Council.
