Wherever we are in our lives, there is always admin. Even the simplest quotidian tasks will require some organisation, most likely accompanied by paperwork, whether it’s taxing a car, buying a washing machine or paying a bill. And, I have discovered, admin is an unavoidable aspect of death and dying too.

In conversations with friends, family and followers during Death Matters Awareness Week – which ends today – it seems death and dying admin is something that concerns quite a lot of us, especially those of us who have, through a diagnosis, become a little more aware of our mortality. And yet it is something we’re reluctant to face (most of us don’t even have a will).

Wishes 

In the face of existential threat, when I sense the extent of my powerlessness, my pragmatic self seeks out something meaningful I might do to restore even a modicum of agency. That is why I am embarked upon creating my own death and dying plan. There is another important motivation for this important piece of work. I believe leaving instructions about how I want my wishes conducted towards the end of life is a way I can provide a little comfort and ease for those left behind.

This plan has been shaped by my own experience of grief. With my wishes clearly expressed, I relieve my loved ones of the dilemma of guesswork.

The plan will occupy my next few weeks, and I intend to publish it and use it possibly as the basis for workshops for others who might be interested in producing their own. If you’re interested in finding out more, drop me an email at [email protected]