Twenty-Six Humorous Quotes About Death and Mortality

Delivering levity and a little dark humor to lighten up end-of-life
Laughing woman in red cap.

Credit: Janaya Dasiuk

The subjects of death and mortality get their fair share of the serious treatment day by day (heck, we even do it on this blog). But, just as a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a little dose of humor is a winning salve for confronting a part of life that many find uncomfortable or frightening. Death is a great equalizer — and to that end, almost everyone’s got something to say about it.

For deadly quips and funny quotes from authors, comedians, playwrights, and more, read on.

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Posted in Laughter is Medicine | Leave a comment

Understanding Collective Grief

How to cope with this increasingly common and debilitating phenomenon

Two women embrace tearfully, with tropical trees in the background.Collective grief happens when a community, society, or nation all experience extreme change or loss. It is common to experience collective grief in the wake of major events such as wars, natural disasters and other tragedies, even if you didn’t experience them firsthand. The past few years have seen countless events that would qualify: Entire swathes of North Carolina have been washed away by Hurricane Helene. Florida has been rocked by a succession of record-breaking hurricanes. In the west, entire neighborhoods are lost to wildfires with startling regularity. The Middle East, Sudan and Ukraine are embroiled in conflicts that continue to escalate, with unspeakable violence and devastation being inflicted upon countless people, and widespread ramifications that echo throughout other nations. The list goes on and on and on, and it can literally make people sick. 

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The Grief Cure by Cody Delistraty

Navigating the depths: finding meaning in grief through unconventional cures

 

The cover for Cody Delistraty's "The Grief Cure."

When Cody Delistraty’s mother died of cancer, he was devastated. As a burgeoning journalist in his early twenties, he turned to his training in reporting, diving into research, consulting experts and exploring the latest treatments for grief. His book “The Grief Cure” chronicles this journey, as Delistraty experiments with various “cures” for his sorrow. From an AI chatbot version of his mother to psilocybin, laughter therapy, book prescriptions and consultations with neuroscientists about memory deletion, he doesn’t find a definitive “cure” for his grief but rather gains a revised perspective on its role in his life.

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The Bizarre Phenomenon of Terminal Lucidity

This curious and profound experience stumps scientists to this day

Credit: A.Weaver/Midjourney

Many strange things can occur when someone nears the end of their life, but terminal lucidity might be one of the most peculiar. This phenomenon occurs when a dying patient suddenly has a brief and unexpected return of cognitive function. Oftentimes, they will happily and alertly communicate with staff or family as if they haven’t been suffering from severe cognitive decline.

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“See You Again” by Carrie Underwood

In this power ballad about sudden loss, death isn’t the end

Promotional art for single "See You Again"

Some songs about death convey the anguish of loss, resonating with sadness and poignant recollections of the one who has died. But Carrie Underwood’s “See You Again” attempts to uplift with a hopeful tone and production, despite the tragedy that inspired it.

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“Little Father” by Li-Young Lee

A son explores his father’s death and ongoing presence in heartfelt poem
A reflection in a puddle on pavement shows birds flying in the sky, reminiscent of Li-Young Lee's "Little Father."

Credit: Engin Akyurt

I buried my father
in the sky.
Since then, the birds
clean and comb him every morning
and pull the blanket up to his chin
every night.

I buried my father underground.
Since then, my ladders
only climb down,
and all the earth has become a house
whose rooms are the hours, whose doors
stand open at evening, receiving
guest after guest.
Sometimes I see past them
to the tables spread for a wedding feast.

I buried my father in my heart.
Now he grows in me, my strange son,
my little root who won’t drink milk,
little pale foot sunk in unheard-of night,
little clock spring newly wet
in the fire, little grape, parent to the future
wine, a son the fruit of his own son,
little father I ransom with my life.

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Posted in The Next Chapter | Leave a comment