Activity 3.1.8 Write Your Eulogy

Purpose

To build self-esteem and acknowledge personal value

Materials

Handout–Ten Valuable Questions Workbook/journal

Time

1 hr/day (over ten days)

Method

Part 1: The Ten Valuable Questions

These questions will give participants the steps needed to organize their thoughts, and gain insight into their core value, which will then give them important information for writing their eulogy.

1. The facilitator can write the Ten Valuable Questions on the blackboard/flipchart or make copies of the handout to distribute. I suggest the questions be read to participants first, followed by a discussion of each.
2. Participants can copy the questions or use the handout, and write their answers in their workbook/journal.
3. Over the next ten days, participants will write their answers to these questions. Ask them to begin with Question 1 for the first day, and continue through the following days until all ten questions have been answered.

Ten Valuable Questions

1. What people, places, and activities allow me to be myself or feel most like myself?
2. What is one thing I could start doing today that would most improve my quality of life?
3. What is my greatest talent or my greatest skill?
4. How can I get paid for doing what I love?
5. Who are my most inspiring role models or mentors?
6. How can I be of service to others?
7. What do I really want in my life?
8. How do my closest friend, my worst enemy, my boss, my children, and my co-workers see me?
9. What are the good things in my life?
10. What would I like to be remembered for?

Part 2: Write Your Eulogy

1. Discuss the practice of eulogies with participants. Why do we have them? Are they common in all cultures?
2. The facilitator can cut out obituaries or eulogies from a newspaper to show as examples.
3. Ask participants to write their own eulogy.
4. The facilitator may choose to have participants share their eulogy with the group.