If your obituary was written today, what would it say?

That’s actually something you have complete control over, since writing your own obituary is one of the best ways to celebrate life and leave one last message to the world.

Most people hire writers to tackle their obituary. While there’s nothing wrong with this, there’s something far more impactful about telling your story in your own voice. There are a few great reasons to take this on, and you’ll be glad that you did.

To get some more perspective on why writing your own obituary is the way to go, read on.

You can tell your loved ones exactly how you feel

Typically when a person passes away, their family helps the obituary writer by sharing important information about their deceased loved one’s life.

What if you could go the other route and tell your own story?

By writing your own obituary, you include any details about your own life that you see fit, in addition to sharing some heartfelt messages with your family. For instance, you can tell the story of how you met your spouse and let them know in your own words how sharing the journey of life with them was your greatest joy.

You can tell your kids how they lit up your life when they were born, in addition to imparting some gems for them to take with them in their own lives.

This is also an excellent opportunity to share your life philosophy and explain to the public how you chose to live and what thoughts you’d like to leave them.

Above all, writing your own obituary can take on any tone you’d like, and you can feel free to touch on anything your heart desires.

It Gives You The Chance To Put Life In Perspective

Writing your obituary can be therapeutic and provide some perspective on life as a whole.

Let’s face it -- most of us live day to day without giving the idea of our own death more than a passing thought.

We’re so caught up in day-to-day life, and often are too fearful to dwell on the subject for more than a moment. However, taking the time to write your own obituary provides a beautiful opportunity to make peace with death and recognize that it’s just a natural part of life.

As you spill out your thoughts and feelings into the obituary, it can relieve some of the anxiety around the subject. Ironically, making peace with death frees you to live your life to the fullest.

You’ll Have Greater Clarity Writing It Far In Advance

None of us have the foresight to know the exact day or moment that we’ll pass away. As a result, there’s no guarantee if you’ll be in a position to write your own obituary as well as you’d like due to health issues, old age or other circumstances.

By taking the opportunity to do it now, you can guarantee that you’re putting forth your best efforts and can make the obituary say exactly what you want it to.

Writing it yourself and in advance ensures that you’ll get all of the important details and express yourself with flair.

So go ahead and start working on a draft of your obituary. Doing so is a golden opportunity to make a lasting impression on your family, while sharing your story with the world.