In case you missed the reference to the Barbie movie, go look it up. I’ll wait.

As a millennial who works in death and dying every day, I have to say that the scene in Barbie movie was SPOT ON and filled my bucket both for the nostalgia and how on the nose it was. I too get the vacant stares and the crickets in the background whenever I mention what I do or if I offhandedly refer to death at all, which happens a ton because it’s not taboo to me and I forget that it is for everyone else in our broader culture.

So, we’re going to talk about death and I will give it the sensitivity that it deserves, but be forewarned, the kid-gloves are off and I’ll talk about it however I please including the parts that are funny.

Now, how many of you have been driving down the road and seen a tractor-trailer coming and you think “if I veer to the left, I’d be dead – boop.” First of all, those are called intrusive thoughts and if they’re super frequent, perhaps seek a therapist. But, they’re also super normal in manageable quantities and as long as you don’t actually do what you’re thinking about.

Most people would just stop there and move on with their lives. I, however, am a bit of a weirdo and take it further when those thoughts pop up and I think through all of the repercussions of me dying.

1. How would my husband find out?
2. Would my dog be super sad for a while?
3. Did I set up enough life insurance to keep the house?
4. Good thing I told my husband what I want for funeral arrangements (like any normal 30 year old… keep up guys).

Do you have an answer for any of these questions if your loved one died? What about if you died?

Now I’m not going to lie and say it was super easy for me to think though all of these things at first. Truth be told, I had been working in hospice (aka seeing death daily) for over a year before I really wanted to think about it. So you’re forgiven for being squeamish about it. But it’s time to put on your big-person panties and do some self-reflection and THEN take it a step further and talk to the important people in your life about it too.

This is harder than it looks and if I figure out how to make it easier, I’ll let you know. Don’t hold your breath though.

Now to quote Violet Parr from The Incredibles, “Well, I think [we have] made some excellent progress today, but I think it’s time we wind down now.” You’re free to go.