I have heard writers refer to penning their own bios as being a “death sentence.” So, when you hear the term obituary, and are asked to write one, it’s somewhat common to assume that what they’re actually asking you to write is a biography — not exactly a death notice.

But when I was applying for a local reporting position recently, I had to do a double take.

I sent in my application, including what I assumed should be a bio of myself and immediately received a response from a staff member that I failed to attach my obituary. Hmmmm. Off to a bad start as a seemingly mediocre applicant, I immediately began writing my own death notice to finish the application. This was, to put it simply, an experience. That was until halfway through my new exercise, when I received yet another email telling me they didn’t see the attached bio and everything was all as it should be.

At this point I’m exhausted from using email and am halfway through writing my public death notice that I thought was necessary for this application just to find out it’s not— and yet I felt the wild urge to finish what I started. Not because I’m one of those people who heroically must finish the job, because I’m actually a casual quitter at most things in life. I kept writing because I felt a stir of emotions merely halfway into the exercise. Writing about my death was both cumbersome and entertainingly morbid for me. It was a different writing exercise that was both unique and new— one that I highly recommend doing. Plus, now that It was no longer being attached to a resume, I immediately dropped all serious pretenses and wrote what I thought was right: something silly about the short-lived life of a Midwestern gal.

As we read, my Saint Bernard killed me by pushing me off my own roof. While the cause of death isn’t usually included in obit’s these days, I wanted the reader to have something special. I wasn’t taking my cause too seriously because being that I’m in fact still alive, it couldn’t be written seriously. At the risk of sounding like a Buzzfeed article, it raises the question: how would you write your own death and what does it say about yourself? For me, I felt far, far away from the very notion. I think that’s why it was so easy to blame the dog.

Despite being someone who actually thinks about death a lot (not in a criminal way I swear) — at the end of the day I’m still a private person. I had to write about details of who I am outside the general stuff -- where I was born, where I went to school, etc. I had to share about my parents, my family. I found myself writing about big things in my short life that mark significance for me personally; big things like moving to Milwaukee for school and an old relationship— or even smaller things such as learning to pickle this past summer.

I didn’t feel the “ah dang” moment, that tinge of sadness, until I had to list my surviving immediate family. My six siblings, ten nieces and nephews, my parents, my partner and my pets. Gosh, if there’s anyone on that list that would function poorly in my absence, it would be the pets. Who would warn everyone of all my dog’s allergies?Who would scratch the cats belly perfectly just below the armpit?It’s the little things we’ll probably stress about wherever we wind up after we die. I’d like to think I won’t be sad watching people move on, but I sure would be bummed if they made another National Treasure while I’m gone. 

What are some of the little things that would keep you up at night, even in your own grave bed? What wouldn’t you be able to let go?

Years ago, I had a very brief professional writing gig where I had to write an obituary of an elderly lady. I had to call her family, hear their side of her story, and then write a proper ode to this stranger I would never meet. While it was heavy work, I think writing my own death notice was more of a challenge.

Writing my own short-and-to-the-point death notice got me thinking how maybe none of us have any right at all to try to summarize the life that someone else lived.

Trying to imagine what would be written about me upon my death is a strange concept. However, doing it myself was a great writing exercise. Aspiring writer or not, I think everyone can get something out of this exercise. It provoked existential thinking by making me analyze the life I’m leaving behind, and the current life I’m living. It challenged me to summarize my 26 years in less than 500 words —the real important Cliffs Notes.

It was an experience to write it, even if it came off as silly. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that life itself is kind of a funny story. Not everything needs to be as beautiful and memorable as a Paul Simon song. I think if anyone is at a point in their life where they feel a bit directionless, they should play dead and write about themselves. Don’t be afraid to ask yourself the big heavy questions. Don’t be afraid to be sad, silly or even angry. No one can talk about yourself, better than you. I think you’ll learn a thing or two about your own perception of yourself along the way.

Also to whomever truly writes my obit: make me sound cool. Like if the reader had never known me, they’d feel like they missed out on an interesting party.