Wow, I just discovered this game.  This could be of huge benefit to people.  Not only people who are dying and their relatives, but also anyone who wishes to explore death and therefore come closer to life!

The game poses a series of interesting questions.  It is designed to spark conversations about death between relatives who find the subject difficult to breach.  

But, not only is it great for this purpose; it can also be used for increasing self-awareness around death.  Therefore, it can be used by anyone.  

Here's a nice, informative article about the game. 

​Here's the website where you can buy it: Common Practice

One of the hardest things in literature, and especially children's literature, is to portray death in a way that invites a less fearful or condemning attitude towards this phenomenon. 

There are a few children's book that have sought to introduce children to death.  How to breach such a sensitive subject to minds who are innocent and not yet understanding of the impermanence of life?  It's tricky for sure. 

However, I would say that 'Cry, Heart, But Never Break' has managed this in a magnificent way.  While portraying the character, death as gentle and understanding it also does not shy away from the realities of death.  This is especially great for kids who have or are experiencing the death of a loved one and don't know what to make of it. 

Written by Glenn Ringtved and illustrated by Charlotte Pardi, the book is a masterpiece, and highly recommended for parents who have grieving children or who simply want to teach children about this delicate subject in a gentle and sensitive way.

One of the things I especially love about the book is the emphasis that death is needed and that it makes life all the richer. 

For more information and another great review of this book, check out Cry Heart But Never Break: A remarkable meditation on loss and life.

If you're interested, here is the link to the amazon page: Who Dies?

I love this TEDx talk.  The reason I love it, is because Jeanine Staples talks about the deaths that we die every day and how we can be compassionate to them and ourselves and come through them.  This is the foundation of my 'Embracing Change' work that will be launched later in the year, because it not only shows us how we can prepare ourselves for when 'final death' hits, but also how much richer and peaceful we can make our lives if we work with the concept of death.

So, I urge you to watch it.  In the video Jeanine gives a fantastically fresh perspective, which very much mirrors my own philosophy and the way that I work with people.  She has described it so well, using very clear models of the different kinds of death we die in our lifetimes as well as techniques we can use to establish a dialogue with our pain. 

For related reading see:

• Who am I? Finding your Essence
• Dying to Live: Embracing Change
  
• Be as  a Lake: A fresh perspective on pain
  

I've just finished reading 'The Girl with the Green-Tinted Hair', by Gavin Whyte.  It's a lovely short story, a fable if you like, full of life and magic. 

It's really an uplifting book, taking you through a myriad of emotions as you follow the boys journey.
Even though, as the book progresses, I had a feeling of how it would end, that didn't stop a tear being shed at the beauty of what happened.

If you're interested in taking a look, you can buy it on Amazon here.