Even as a death doula, nothing prepared me for this.

A good death isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

This is what we call anticipatory grief—the emotional process of grieving someone before they die. It’s real. It’s valid. And it can feel just as heavy as the grief that comes after.

I’ve met a lot of people at the end of their lives. But every now and then, someone shows up and stays with you long after they’ve gone.

So, what can death teach us about life? Here’s what I’ve learned.

Talking about death and dying is something that many people find uncomfortable, even though it's one of the most natural parts of life.