My friends Lizzy and Jon at DeathCafe.com were talking about the year 2013 as being the year that we really talked about death. Death Cafe’s have popped up everywhere. I’ve been interviewed multiple times for radio and publication. We get 12-18 people every month at the Ann Arbor Death Cafe - including about one-third new people each time.

What’s up????

Are we really shifting toward acceptance of death in our culture? Or maybe just acceptance of talking about death? Why?

I think it’s a combination of more and more alienation/isolation in our daily lives, which leads to loneliness, coupled with a desire to do something different to add meaning. So people want to talk, in person, with real human beings they can see, in real time

Once you begin talking, you begin accepting that death is normal. You realize that you’re not alone. Then your life becomes more meaningful.

Death Cafe works. You feel better afterward. The connections and discoveries made there feel good. And it’s free. What a deal!

What do you think? Why are we talking about death more?