Wednesday, November 23, 2022
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me, including good health, my family, and my friends. I hope you’ll pause on this day to ponder those elements of your life for which you are thankful.
When you’re The Doyenne of Death®, discussing and thinking about mortality daily, you really appreciate life and good health. I just had my annual physical, and for a 64-year-old Caucasian woman, I’m in darn good shape! Need to keep an eye on the cholesterol levels and bone health. My regular Pilates classes I lead on Zoom with my faithful students are such a blessing.
Make the most of each day by being truly present. Drop resentments and negative emotional baggage that only weighs you down. Get outside, take a deep breath of fresh air, and look for the beauty that surrounds us. Wake up each morning and enjoy all that life has to offer.
These past two pandemic years remind us of the preciousness of good health. Do not take your health for granted – do some exercise every day, even if it’s just a quick walk in your neighborhood. You can ride a stationary bicycle or do hand weight work while you watch TV.
I’m especially grateful for the love and support of family and friends. They’ve been there for me through thick and thin, and I know that they’ll always be there for me. My husband Dave is a wonderful supporter of everything we do to get people discussing death and planning ahead. I’m looking forward to celebrating our 22nd anniversary this December with a cruise that the pandemic postponed for two years.
Sure, there are those people who annoy us greatly. Consider them a test of your ability to forgive and be magnanimous. Work to spread blessings, not curses.
Lastly, I’m grateful for all the blessings God has bestowed upon me. I’m truly blessed to have so much to be thankful for. This year, I’ve revived my podcast, The Doyenne of Death® (subscribe at https://the-doyenne-of-death.sounder.fm/), drafted a manual on how you can hold a Before I Die Festival to get end-of-life planning conversations started (pre-order here: https://beforeidiefestivals.com/product/before-i-die-festival-in-a-box/) and I’ve safely traveled to several funeral industry conventions without catching COVID-19.
Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death®
Many thanks to those companies that support my work. So grateful to the Before I Die Festival Ohio and Dodds Memorials for bringing me to Dayton for the first festival there. So thankful to my good friends who died this past year who were prepared and provided financial blessings.
Reflecting on all that I’m grateful for this Thanksgiving, I’m filled with love, happiness, and hope for the future. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, happy holidays, and a great New Year, filled with health, wealth and success.
Gail Rubin, Certified Thanatologist and The Doyenne of Death®, is an award-winning speaker, author, podcaster, and coordinator of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival (www.BeforeIDieFestivals.com). She is also a Certified Funeral Celebrant. Her three books on planning ahead for end-of-life issues – A Good Goodbye, Hail and Farewell, and Kicking the Bucket List – are available through Amazon and her website, www.AGoodGoodbye.com.
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Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die.
Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media.
Known as The Doyenne of Death®, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die New Mexico Festival and author of a guide to holding such festivals. Her podcast is also called The Doyenne of Death®. She produces videos about the funeral business and related topics. Her YouTube Channel features more than 600 videos!
Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com.
Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Albuquerque Business First named her as one of their 2019 Women of Influence.
Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com.