Grave Concerns, Core Values, and a Good Laugh

Why Start with Values?

When it comes to preparing for the inevitable, many of us jump straight into the “to-do” list—writing a will, choosing a substitute decision-maker, or outlining funeral wishes. But before making any of those important decisions, it’s vital to pause and ask: What truly matters to me?

A Foundational Workshop

One of the things we do in the Willow’s Workshop® Values, Wishes, and Who and What Matter Most, is invite you to explore your core values—those guiding principles that shape how you live, love, and make choices. Articulating your values is foundational to meaningful end-of-life planning because your values are what give your life—and your decisions—meaning.

You might think you already know your values, but when was the last time you named them out loud? For most people, our values live just below the surface—guiding us quietly, like breath or heartbeat. This workshop shines a light on them. You’ll not only name your top values, you’ll also explore how they connect to your wishes for the future and your relationships with the people and things you care about most.

A Mirror and a Guide

What’s especially powerful is that when people articulate their values, they sometimes realize they’re naming what they aspire to live by—not necessarily how they’re living right now. In this way, naming your values can be a kind of reality check—a mirror that reflects both who you are and who you want to become.

This is the kind of reflection that changes more than just your plans—it changes how you live your life now.

A little less carbon… and a little more comedy

From doing this work myself, I discovered that my core values are compassion, connection, spiritual growth, ecological sustainability, and humor. These are more than just words. They are the compass I live by. They also guide my end-of-life and after-death choices. 

For example, because I have grave concerns about the future of our planet, I want my body to be laid to rest in a way that treads lightly on the Earth. I also want rituals that dig deep (not more than six feet) and that nourish the soul and the soil.

Turns out, you can take your sense of humor with you—if you plan ahead. Even in death, I’ll try to leave ’em laughing. (Preferably the kind people laugh with, not at, but hey—I’ll be dead, so have at it.)

They say that we die the way we live.

Find out when we'll be facilitating this empowering experience of reflection, conversation, and clarity. Whether you’re beginning your end-of-life planning journey or looking to deepen it, this workshop is a profound opportunity to get to know yourself better—and live and die accordingly.