Creating A Paradigm Shift

Today I was interviewed about Bcelebrated by Michael Rosenwald of the Washington Post. He wanted to know how we started, what we offer, and why we created it. He asked really intelligent questions. The one I liked best was, "Are you creating a paradigm shift around dying, or is there already a shift happening". My answer was "BOTH".

We live in a very different world from our grandparents and parents. When our grandparents died it was pretty simple to get the word out. They likely lived close to their family and friends. People were called, an obituary was written, people read the paper and knew where to show up for the funeral. They brought food to comfort the family.

Now you are likely to live thousands of miles from your family. Your friends are spread out across the globe, and some of them you have yet to met face to face, though you have a thriving online relationship. Your kids probably won't respond to you unless you text them. Phoning is so passe. We've changed the way we communicate and the way we celebrate. The other day a friend posted on facebook that she'd attended a wedding in Israel live via skype from her living room in Venice, CA.

It just makes sense that the way we approach death should catch up with the way we approach life. Baby boomers have been leaders in trends and they are no different when it comes to death. They are actively involved in determining what they want said, done, and displayed at their funerals. They want to express themselves in death just as they have been in life.

So the paradigm is shifting due to the boomer's desires to express their individuality and in the advances in technology. We are leading the shift in the development of a site that enables you to determine how you are remembered through your autobiographical memorial site, enabling you to leave private messages to loved ones that will be accessible once you are gone, making your last wishes known to trusted individuals, and automatically notifying all of your community at the time of your passing, informing them of your memorial and inviting them to your site.

But creating a shift is much deeper than offering a usable site. Our highest goal for Bcelebrated is to help people embrace death as a part of life. When you deny death you really limit life's vitality. We want to inspire people to live life to the fullest, embracing the reality that our time here is limited so let's get on with what really matters - love, compassion, self expression, creation, exploration, adventure, and presence. That's why we offer contests, events and social experiments to inspire you to live more fully and support you in addressing issues that are holding you back.

Our motto is a quote from Ray Charles - Live each day as if it were your last, cause one day you'll be right.

Wishing you a very full life!

Debra