90 May be the New 60 (1)
Hi, Kyohei. What a gorgeous spring morning. How was your weekend?
Actually, I attended two memorable life events-a funeral and a birthday party-both for folks in their 90s.
Oh, that’s quite a weekend. Were they very different from such occasions in Japan?
Oh, totally different. The funeral was a grand event befitting a life well lived, until age 96 to be exact. But they didn’t call it a funeral. The invite said it was a “homegoing celebration” and it was all about honoring the person’s life. Is that a new thing?
Actually, the trend of celebrating the life of the deceased rather than mourning their death took root in the 1960s and ‘70s. People wanted more personalized and unique way to celebrate someone’s life instead of just grieving their demise.
It’s a fascinating cultural shift. But some people still focus on mourning the loss of their loved one. Ultimately, it depends on the wishes of the deceased and their family.
Death may be inevitable and universal, but the ways people deal with it around the world are certainly not.
Absolutely. Frank tells me that one of the most important aspects of a funeral in Lebanon is the wake. This is a time for the family and friends of the deceased to get together, share memories, and support one another. After that they hold the funeral service, followed by a meal together. This is often a time for laughter and happy memories, as well as to support one another through the grieving process.
Every man is the architect of his own future.
