Dancing with Death: Uplifting and Powerful

“Uplifting” isn’t a word usually associated with death and dying, but AARP’s film presentation last Friday showed how it might be possible. Perhaps the applause and the smiles from the audience said it all: the more you know about modern ways of dying, the more empowered you are to make your own end-of-life journey exactly what you want it to be.

Many people had come to Friday’s event out of sheer curiosity or because they felt they “should,” and probably didn’t expect to feel more hopeful and energized by the time they left. That’s a testament to the extensive work done over several months to find, select, and secure the film rights and panelists. It also speaks volumes about the skills and life experiences of the panel moderator, Gail Harris, a national Emmy Award-winning journalist for PBS and NPR. She interviewed a death doula and a hospice nurse after the films and took questions and comments from the audience.

If you missed last Friday’s program, click here to find descriptions of five more films coming up. All films and discussions are free and open to all, but you must register for each one. AARP is proud to help you begin the conversations we all need to have about death and dying.