Locating New Life through Death Literacy: A Vital Toolkit for Teens

Wildwood Wordsmiths is an exploration of unique intersections: where nature meets literacy, where emotions intertwine with academics, and where growth flourishes in unexpected places. Today, we are delving into a topic that might seem unusual at first. We’re here to talk about death. More precisely, we’re here to talk about why teens need to talk about death. We’re here to convince you that death literacy is not only valuable, but essential.

It’s no secret that many of us Westerners are steeped in a death-denying culture. Death is one of those fidgety, fearsome topics…we treat it as taboo and tend to get skittish when it’s brought up. And while many may wrinkle their noses and dismiss such an exploration as morbid, the reality is, our collective death-phobia leaves teenagers unprepared for the inevitability of loss and grief.

When we instead, normalize a universal experience, we drag it up from the basement and spread it out on the living room table for inspection. By bringing death into the light, we can play with our associations, anxieties, and experiences. We realize we may not be able to control what happens, but we do have a choice about the meaning we assign death.

Exploring death provides a framework for meaning-making. Grappling with our mortality means exploring existential questions, developing a deeper sense of self-awareness, and cultivating an appreciation for the value of life.

Research in the field, notably by experts like Kathryn Mannix, emphasizes that death literacy is a gateway to a richer, more profound understanding of life. In the classroom, it translates into activities, discussions, and reflections that allow teens to begin unravelling the mysteries surrounding death, and gaining a unique perspective on the brevity and preciousness of life.

Talking about death in intentional and meaningful ways also encourages empathy by helping teens grasp and appreciate the experiences of others. It prompts discussions about twin topics like grief, loss, letting go, powerlessness, hopelessness, suicide, aging, coping, and transformation. Death literacy fosters compassion and a sense of interconnectedness with the broader human experience. We recognize uncomfortable truths, like how death is inescapable: the scales of mortality tip for us all. We’re in this together. No exceptions. No exemptions.

Understanding the cyclical nature of life and death is also an important part of emotional resiliency. When we expect and honour death cycles—in our relationships, in ourselves, and in our physical bodies—we are less easily shaken by life’s undulations. We understand that this journey ebbs and flows, and we are better able to ride the waves as they come. We might even grasp the way our inability to let die, overburdens life. From an ecological view, death enhances and nourishes life, the way decomposition is necessary for new growth in any ecosystem.

Death literacy is a life skill.

We want to equip teens with tools and understanding before they face grief and tragedy. We want to create proactive containers to discuss what it means to hold on, and truly let go.

Steven Jenkinson, in his profound work, emphasizes the importance of a “dying-wise” culture. What might it look like to cultivate this wisdom in our teens, and help them develop a nuanced understanding of the human experience?

Imagine a generation, liberated from the collective death-phobia. Imagine our young people equipped with the emotional intelligence to navigate loss, the resilience to face adversity, and the wisdom to appreciate what Jungian scholar Clarissa Pinkola Éstes calls “the life-death-life cycle.”

Death literacy is not morose; it is transformative.

In the coming weeks, we will share death-related writing prompts, journaling exercises, conversation starters, and meditation activities.

Our mission at Wildwood Wordsmiths is to nurture academic growth by cultivating holistic individuals capable of navigating life’s complexities with grace and understanding. We’re advocates of depth, nuance, courage, and beauty. Death literacy, we believe, is a crucial exploration—one that leads to a more compassionate and resilient generation.

Put another way, discussing death is an investment in the emotional, social, and psychological well-being of teens. By providing them with the tools to navigate the complexities of life, loss, and death, we equip them to face challenges with grace, empathy, and a deeper appreciation for the beauty inherent in the human experience.

So what do you say? Are you ready to make poetry with obituaries yet?

Our next few blog posts will feature nature—a key component of our toolkit—film, poetry, and art to explore death and dying through writing prompts, journaling exercises, and conversation starters designed to foster introspection and dialogue. By leaning forward to meet the fears associated with death, we ultimately transcend them. Through the work of deepening our connection to both life and death, we aim to transform the way we perceive and experience both.