It might surprise you to hear that as more people get comfortable with the idea of discussing their end-of-life plans, they are taking to hosting dinner celebrations to broach the topic. Dinner is not usually a thing you would associate with discussions about death, after all.
However, estate planners across the state and country have taken to adopting this informal form of gathering as a great way to get everyone together and talk about those difficult subjects.
Dinners for death discussions
WiseBread takes a look at an increasingly popular phenomenon: using dinner parties to discuss death. Many people utilize these dinners to discuss important matters like estate plans, wills, inheritance and last wishes. The hosting individual can also use it to talk about options that they wish for their own body after death, as well as what they want to happen with their assets, estate, business, or anything else left behind.
Why the rise in popularity?
The idea behind this emerging phenomenon is simple: the conversation needs to happen one way or another. After all, though the discussion is grim and not a topic many people want to broach, not having the discussion can result in panic and chaos in the event of sudden death. So, if you need to have this talk, why not do it over a nice meal?
Sharing food can lead to a more relaxed atmosphere and can promote a more thoughtful environment. The setting is often supportive, allowing people to feel less anxious and open up more. It also helps remove some of the stigmas around a seemingly “taboo” topic, which Americans are desperately in need of shedding in the first place.
