Sober Philosophy: A Good Death (Karin presents)

### Unless we’re immortal, we are all going to die. Despite our societies doing their best to downplay it, by using less scary terms like “un-aliving”, hiding our sick and elderly in hospice, having our family and friends pretend it’s not happening to make themselves feel better and leaving us lonely, and even being blamed for the experience, it’s going to happen. The question is “how are we going have a ‘good death’”?

I will tell you what a good death is to me, and I ask you to think about it and come up with your own ideas.
A good death to me is knowing that you did the best with what you had, even if you didn’t achieve what you wanted to achieve. That you’ve sorted through your regrets, guilt, and sorrow. Felt them, understood them, accepted them. That there is a level of acceptance and grace. Deep down, I think the best death is the one you choose for yourself. It’s the one that comes when you’re following your wildest dreams, or being brave, or putting others first.
It reminds me of that quote from Hunter S. Thompson:
"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body,
but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out,
and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!”
And this quote from poet Mary Oliver:
“Tell me, what do you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Questions to think about:

• Is there such a thing as a “Good Death”, if so, what is it?
• Do you think about your own death, and how you want it to be?
• Is death inevitable? Or do you think it’s more like a curable disease?
• What do you think about dignity in dying?
• What do you think about suicide? Especially for chronically ill people.
• What do you think about choosing your own death? (going against doctors who have you on life support, my greatest fear)
• Is there anyway to make it easier on people?
• How can a person handle it if they’re not allowed to have a good death?

Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

We begin the meeting at 7:30 pm sharp at the mezzanine above the lobby of the Graduate Hotel in the University District: 4507 Brooklyn Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98105.

Directions for first-timers at the Graduate Hotel:
From the front hotel entrance go to the right. Turn left around the corner to enter through the north valet entrance. If the valet questions you just say you're here for the philosophy group. Go straight to the main lobby and turn right behind the large bookshelves before the elevators. Enter the stairway on your left, go up one flight, and go through the first door you encounter to enter our meeting area.

AMAZON FORMAT (AZF)
We will begin the meeting by reading the text above silently together.

2-MINUTE OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (2ORF):

1. The topic presenter begins the discussion by taking up to two minutes explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
2. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter has up to two minutes to describe their general thoughts on the topic.
3. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.
4. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.
5. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into TDRF>4 below.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>4):
If there are 4 or less people present we will have unstructured discussion, otherwise we will use the format below.

1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.
3. If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.
4. Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.
5. The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.
6. The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interruptions or redirections.
7. When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.
8. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.