The Joy of Funeral Directing

I want to talk about something that has been on my mind for the last several months. The joy of funeral directing. I am going to ask for a little grace as I am working at finding a way to express the deep joy I both derive from and bring to this work. If I had a bitcoin for every time I have said the words privilege and honor in the course of working with families, Wildflower would have branches all across the country already. But up until recently, I have never used the word joy when talking with a family about how it feels to walk alongside them for little while. 

In putting together Wildflower, I worked closely with an amazing interior designer to make this a beautiful, soothing, inviting space. And, just being in the building fills me with happiness. Which means I love coming to work! And, that is joyful. Being completely free to serve folks the way I believe they should be served brings me joy. The emotional intimacy that is forged when I connect with people while serving their best interests brings me joy.

Working with the amazing team at Wildflower brings me joy.

I am working to develop ways to communicate this that are sensitive and respectful. I don't ever want to come off as if I am happy that someone died. I do want to share the authentic feelings I have when I can see that someone knows their tender heart, their raw grief, their vulnerable emotion, and their precious person are safe here. 

I watch as folks cross our threshold for the first time. Often they come in guarded and defensive. Maybe they have been burned by a funeral home in the past. Maybe another provider they worked with bumbled their way through the process. Maybe they have heard stories of funeral directors taking advantage of people in grief. Over the course of our time together I get to watch them soften, relax, become vulnerable, and become real with me as a sense of safety settles in knowing that their best interests are being gently and competently held. This brings me so much joy! 

So, with this new adventure, Wildflower Funeral Concepts, I am learning to communicate my joy. Maybe a bit awkwardly at first. Hopefully with more grace as I go forward.