Join us for a convivial gathering where we can come together to discuss this most important topic. Talking about death and dying may seem like one of the more challenging conversations we can have—and yet it can be one of the most liberating!

This might be the most unusual event, but bear with us. I think we are in for a remarkable experience.

We invite all community members who are committed to breaking the taboo regarding conversations we should be having so that we may live a life more fully.

In the past, HPCK has been involved in sharing resources and stories to help shed light on a highly tabooed and stigmatized topic, death. We are being called upon to now do the same with another highly tabooed and stigmatized topic, suicide. Death is all the same and impacts us all.

Let us engage in this conversation. This is not meant to be a morbid conversation, but instead a very human one where we consider what we want, both in life and during its closure. Through sharing our thoughts and feelings on this subject, we can more readily move through our fears, shed inhibitions, and forge deeper understanding and connection with our loved ones.

So that we can have starting places for our shared conversations, we have selected a few "homework" assignments for all of us to read, watch, and listen to before we gather. They are very short but are quite engaging, informative, and inspiring.

Read:  Waking Up Before You Die

You know you will die, but you really don't know how long you have to wake up from the cocoon of your habitual patterns. You don't know how much time you have left to fulfill the potential of your precious human birth. Given this, Pema Chodron asks what is the most important thing?

Watch:  The Departures (2008 Film)

We don't want to spoil it for those who have not seen the film. If you have seen it already. . great we encourage you to watch it again. Now that you are gathering with us, you may have some more takeaways to inspire our conversation.

Listen:  The Bridge Between Suicide and Life (Ted Talk)

In a sobering, deeply personal talk Briggs shares stories from those he’s spoken — and listened — to standing on the edge of life. He gives a powerful piece of advice to those with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide.

We are looking forward to sharing this special gathering with you.