Living Life Dying Death | A Guide to Healthy Conversations about Death and Dying to Inspire Life and Living

While some see death and dying as taboo subjects, author Jennifer Collins Taylor, MSW approaches the topics with gentle, thought-provoking prose, demonstrating that openly discussing death and dying is as important to the living as it is to those who may be nearing their final breaths. Her book, Living Life Dying Death: A Guide to Healthy Conversations About Death and Dying to Inspire Life and Living, accomplishes its mission through reflective conversation starters that encompass topics such as compassion, dreams, fear, goodbye, gratitude, grief, honesty, hope, humor, joy, mystery, pain, patience, peacefulness, philosophy of life, relationships, spirituality and many more. Most importantly, the book emphasizes that love is triumphant. In times of health readers are encouraged to reflect on, explore and express their beliefs on the very nature of life and living, death and dying. In times of health challenges the book can be used as a guide to initiate difficult conversations when faced with the possible decline and death of self, friend or loved one. In times of grief this book can be used to bring support and hope to the dynamic experience of grieving. Regardless of where readers are on the pathway from life to death, Living Life Dying Death should be readily available to guide, encourage and inspire healthy conversations about death, dying, grief and loss. Living Life Dying Death calls readers to action, prompting them to find the courage and confidence to more openly discuss death, dying, grief and loss. This book stimulates the reader to embrace living well and encourages those approaching life's final journey to trade fear for love, comfort, forgiveness and a sense of awe. Courageous conversations about life and death allow the strength and beauty of the human spirit to shine.

For 30 years, Jennifer Collins Taylor has personally and professionally explored the deep connections between life and death. Originally from Iowa, Taylor has a Master's of Social Work from St. Ambrose University with a focus on end-of-life care. She is also a yoga therapist and a certified music practitioner, bringing harp music to the bedside of the seriously ill. When she can't be at someone's bedside personally, her instrumental harp CD, Life Beyond Words, is a source of relaxation, peace, comfort, joy and inspiration. Taylor's personal experiences with grief and loss, combined with her intimate experiences interacting with the terminally ill, their friends and family through Hospice care, inspired her to write Living Life Dying Death: A Guide to Healthy Conversations About Death and Dying to Inspire Life and Living. To support grieving individuals, she created the Mourning Bracelet, which reminds the bereaved to be gentle with themselves as they transverse the grief and mourning experience. Jennifer also conducts presentations on the value and power of open, compassionate, nonjudgmental communications surrounding matters of life and death, and facilitates Gatherings, innovative meetings of family, friends and acquaintances for the purpose of sharing stories, experiences, beliefs, thoughts and inquiries about death and dying, life and living fully. Currently Taylor lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., with her husband, Matthew J. Taylor, PT, PhD. Together they co-founded the Dynamic Systems Rehabilitation Clinic, a revolutionary treatment center for individuals experiencing pain, loss of mobility and reduced quality of life.