How to write a letter to help prepare for death and change your life

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Most people would like to say goodbye to their loved ones before they die, to express their feelings to them. Naturally, no one can predict when and how they will die. Accidents and other unforeseen circumstances often deprive us of this conversation with our family. But experts have found a solution.

Vyjeyanthi Periyakoil, Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University and Head of the Stanford Palliative Care Program, has developed a letter template that you can use to say goodbye to friends and family and tell them how much they mean to you. This template contains seven points that should help you write a letter that can soften the fact of death a little.

Periykoil has worked with terminally ill patients for many years and often found herself in the role of a mediator between the sick and their loved ones, helping both to express their feelings, hopes and regrets. She realized that sometimes outside help was needed.

This is how she got the idea of a letter to loved ones. She created a template in eight languages so that people from different parts of the world can talk about their feelings and say goodbye to their families.

Letter to loved ones template

1. Thank the important people in your life.
2. Write down your dearest memories.
3. Ask forgiveness from those you have offended.
4. Forgive those who offended you.
5. Thank your loved ones for their love and care.
6. Tell your family and friends how much you love them.
7. Say goodbye.

It is useful to write such a letter to everyone

Writing a letter like this when you are young and healthy can have a positive impact on many aspects of your life.

The way you communicate with loved ones will change. It will become easier for you to discuss not only death, but also any other topics that previously seemed forbidden.

In addition, by writing such a letter, you can calm down. Even if something happens to you, your family will know about your feelings.

Some points are not suitable for everyone

Although the purpose of the template is to make it easier to say goodbye to loved ones, the process of writing a letter itself is very complicated. You may have to write a few options before you can fully express your thoughts and feelings.

This letter template is not for everyone. During her work, Periykoil discovered a group of people who are convinced that talking about their own death, especially saying goodbye, will bring them death.

Many also commented on Periykoil's article in the New York Times. Someone thinks that they have no right to forgive anyone, because only God can forgive. Others are convinced that there are grievances that cannot be forgiven.

Be that as it may, you do not have to follow all the points exactly. Choose what is especially important to you personally, and write your letter.