Many people have asked me why I decided to train as a funeral celebrant, so here’s the story …
As I approached my ‘third act’ – the time that’s apparently about the pursuit of wisdom and leaving some kind of legacy (or even just putting your feet up and ‘taking it easy’!) – I reflected on my life and career to that point. I thought long and hard about all of the people who had made a difference to my life, and those who I’d touched in so many ways. There was no doubt I’d achieved a lot, and given a lot, but I wondered whether I had really contributed everything I could during my lifetime.
My conclusion was that there was definitely room for more, but what?
Then I came across a poem, The Dash by Linda Ellis. I was inspired to think about the things I’d like to change because, as the poem says, you never know how much time is left that can still be rearranged … You can read the poem The Dash here.
The answer came to me as a bit of a surprise to family, friends and colleagues, but to a person every one of them remarked how perfect the role of Civil Celebrant would be for me, and I was overwhelmed with support and well wishes both personally and professionally. So that was it!
I’d learned a lot over the past 6 decades, and nothing could be more fitting for my third act than helping families to remember and give tribute to the person they had lost, by making sure that however they had lived ‘their dash’ was recounted and celebrated in a meaningful way when, as the poem says, their eulogy is being read at their funeral.
When I received thanks from the family and funeral director who allowed me the privilege of preparing and delivering my very first funeral service, nothing could have given me more pride. I hope to spend many years into the future continuing to live my dash making a real difference to families at what is usually the most difficult time of their lives.
Jayne
