When I was in my 50’s and started getting requests in the mail to join AARP, it made me feel old. But this newest piece of mail takes the cake. 

Funeral Planning.

Yep, you’re reading that right. When did I start qualifying for that? And if the AARP mail made me feel old, can you guess how I felt getting the funeral home planning mail? I didn’t even know that funeral homes sent out marketing materials.

After the initial sting of receiving this foreboding piece of mail, I thought it actually sounded like a pretty good idea. In the past three months, I’ve had two separate friends tell me that they have already planned their funerals. They want to be sure that everything is taken care of so that their loved ones don’t have to stress about it when the time comes. 

The more I hear and read, the more I see that there are some pretty valid reasons for doing so. Planning your own funeral means that all details of the funeral or cremation are thought about ahead of time and executed your way in accordance with your wishes and beliefs. No changes can be made because everything is documented. 

You’re loved ones don’t have to make decisions while they are grieving or come to a consensus about what would be best. Plus, it’s all paid for ahead of time - you don’t have to worry about inflation or the cost increasing over time. Hopefully, you’re getting 2023 prices in 2053!

Think about how much fun it would be to write your own obituary. You know you better than anyone else. You can add in details you want others to remember you by. You could be irreverent, humorous, or serious. Your personality will shine through. 

There’s actually a term for writing your own obituary - a selfie obit. That’s right. It’s a thing. There’s even an ObitKit you can buy to help you write your own obituary.

Another plus - you get to choose the newspaper obituary picture. You know, the favorite photo of yourself that hides the double chin. The one that makes you look glamorous. You decide - is it the picture of you 20 pounds lighter and 10 years younger in that pretty dress you’ve always liked? That’s much better than leaving it to chance in case your loved ones think the most current photo is best - you know, the one that shows your actual age with all the wrinkles.