Accepting end-of-life realities leads to better quality of life

image001
All About Me Films Founder Dan Thomas said from his experience, embracing the reality of death can help you live a better life. [Source: Supplied]

This personal documentary filmmaker believes more Australians have a better quality of life when they confront the reality of death.

All About Me Films Founder Dan Thomas said after many interviews with people dealing with grief, one thing has become increasingly clear – the more open to the reality of end-of-life we are, the more likely we are to make the most of it.

We may experience grief in response to the death of a loved one or watching a parent’s descent into dementia and may arise in many different and unusual circumstances.

Psychologists have found it hard to deduce how grief logically operates, partly because it is unique and related to the person experiencing it. Remembering is what makes us grieve and even a brief memory activated by an image, a smell, or a song, can bring on feelings of loss even without consciously knowing why.

Shutterstock_1720779955
National Grief Awareness Day falls on August 30 annually to recognise the time it takes to heal from loss doesn’t have a prescribed course. [Source: Shutterstock]

“Grief is part of life but how we deal with it has huge consequences for those left behind,” he said.

Mr Thomas said demand for his personalised documentary service has significantly increased as more older Australians reflect on their life and legacy.

Our ability to create pictures in our minds or touch on positive memories, sometimes through visuals like film, can help soothe our feelings around loss, reduce stress and in a sense reunite us with someone we have lost.

Across dozens of interviews, Mr Thomas has found participants often reflected on the loss of a partner, a family member or a friend. Participants also reflected on everything from childhood moments to life-or-death decisions that impacted their lives long-term.

“Sharing a deeply personal story is a cathartic experience but for many getting to that point is a tremendous challenge […] To be able to talk about loss and to laugh or cry in the process is a significant step toward healing and it can help others.”

Mr Thomas believes grief can inspire us to prioritise meaningful connections, live authentically, and pursue passions and dreams while we can. 

“It serves as a reminder to embrace and make the most of the time we have with our loved ones.” 

With this in mind, similar services have been established to help people capture the precious memories of their loved ones and immortalise their stories in a media form. 

Heath Piper, Founder of audio memoirs company Playback Interviews, began capturing stories and conversations like these to give families an opportunity for reflection and understanding from their loved one’s experiences, wisdom, and perspectives on life – helping them navigate their own lives and make informed decisions based on the lessons they have learned.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Fire health impacts can be ongoing

  With no substantial rain forecast for weeks, the bushfire crisis looks set to continue well into the new year. Far away from the front line, where I live in Sydney, we have become used to a pall of smoke hanging over the city, and raspy voices and sore eyes have become the norm. Closer... Read More

The Truth about Loneliness and Its Effect on Men

At every age, it is difficult to battle loneliness stemming from changes to our social lives. For seniors, many challenges may arise and may seem like massive interruptions to our happiness, such as grieving the loss of a loved one or moving into a new retirement community. According to a study published by Huffington Post... Read More

Relentless, Demanding and Unappreciated

Last year RN Irene McInerney swapped to working nights in the residential aged care facility where she works. She felt she was no longer able to do the job properly on the day shift. “There had been a change in staffing. We had eight carers to 84 residents, where we used to have at least... Read More
Advertisement