Don’t look away.
Courage to face hard things: Poppy Mardall takes on Death.
Every week I ask my Brave New Girls podcast guest how they define courage. This week is my guest Poppy Mardall, founder & Chair of Poppy’s Funeral Services that guide us through a difficult time, give us opportunity to add meaning & personality to funerals, help us make more eco-friendly choices at every stage & ensure we create the funeral that's right for us.
She defines courage as facing the reality of death, and to help with this she advocates for sustainable and meaningful funerals.
"Courage for me is very much about not looking away. So it's like the very least I can do is not look away and not pretend that this isn't happening. Courage for me is continuing to show up even in the greatest adversity with significant breaks for rest and restoration".
Poppy offers a unique perspective on courage that intertwines the themes of mortality, sustainable living, and the bravery inherent in facing life's ultimate certainty: death. This encapsulates not just the essence of her work in the funeral industry but also a broader philosophy of living consciously and sustainably on the planet.
Poppy's approach to courage is about the steadfastness to face life's most challenging moments, including death, without flinching. This type of bravery involves confronting the uncomfortable and the unknown, and it's a call to action for all of us to engage more deeply with the realities we often choose to ignore.
Poppy's work in transforming funeral practices to be more reflective of individual values and ethics exemplifies this courage. By advocating for funerals that honour the deceased's life in a manner that's both personal and environmentally responsible, she challenges the status quo and invites others to consider how their final send-offs can align with their principles. This shift towards sustainable funeral practices is a tangible expression of living well and consciously, extending our commitment to environmental stewardship beyond our lifetimes.
Her perspective suggests that discussing death openly and planning funerals that reflect our values are acts of bravery. They require us to confront our mortality head-on and make choices that resonate with our beliefs about what it means to live and die well. In doing so, we not only honour our loved ones in a way that's meaningful and personal but also contribute to a healthier planet, making a lasting impact even in death.
To implement this vision of courage in our own lives, especially regarding our approach to death and funeral planning, consider the following ten actionable steps:
Open the Conversation: Begin discussions about death and funeral preferences with loved ones.
Educate Yourself: Learn about sustainable funeral options and their environmental impacts.
Document Your Wishes: Write down your funeral preferences to guide your family when the time comes.
Choose Sustainable Materials: Opt for biodegradable coffins or urns made from natural materials.
Consider Natural Burial: Explore the possibility of a natural burial, which allows for decomposition in a way that nourishes the earth.
Reduce Carbon Footprint: Select a funeral home that practices or supports green initiatives, minimizing the carbon footprint of your funeral.
Support Conservation: Donate to or create a memorial fund that contributes to environmental conservation in honor of the deceased.
Plan a Living Wake: Consider a celebration of life that focuses on the living, encouraging eco-friendly practices among attendees.
Encourage Openness: Promote open discussions about death in your community, helping to normalize these conversations.
Live According to Values: Make lifestyle choices that reflect your values and ethics, showing courage in life as in death.
Poppy Mardall’s definition of courage—facing life's ultimate realities without looking away—encourages us to live well and consciously, acknowledging our mortality while making choices that align with our deepest values.
By integrating discussions around death and sustainable funeral planning into our lives, we embrace a comprehensive picture of bravery, one that not only accepts the inevitability of death but also uses it as an opportunity for positive change.
This approach challenges us to consider how our final acts on this planet can reflect our commitment to living ethically and sustainably, embodying the courage to change for the better.
PS. If you would like support in combating stress & fear to grow your inner Brave New Girl for a better life, book in for a free chat and we can take it from there: BOOK A CHAT
