Jane Goodall has always been an inspiration to me—for so many reasons. But I recently came across a piece of wisdom from her that I didn’t expect: her perspective on dying as an adventure.

It's a mindset that many of us don’t consider, but what a powerful opportunity it is—to shift our view of death from fear to curiosity.

Many of us fear death because we see it only as an ending. But what if, like Jane, we could see it as the next great adventure?

The death positive movement is growing—especially among Gen-Xers in the Sandwich Generation caring for both kids and aging parents. Taryn Kinney, a death doula, helps families navigate end-of-life with compassion and clarity. Embracing mortality can empower us to plan, connect, and care better. Ready to learn more? Reach out today.

Jane Whitlock, a Minneapolis death doula, shares powerful insights in her TEDx talk. She compares how we prepare for birth vs. death, challenging our cultural fear of dying. By facing death openly, we can heal relationships, find purpose, and shape our legacy. Her talk highlights the value of death doulas in end-of-life care.

After major life transitions and the loss of both my father and father-in-law, I was called to support others facing end-of-life. I’m now training as a death doula in Austin, TX, offering emotional and spiritual care during life’s final chapter. We all face death—let’s face it with compassion, presence, and support.

With all the incredible specialists that my father saw over his cancer journey, no one was looking at the whole person. If someone had looked at all of his symptoms holistically our experience would have been different. The silos of specialization, common in our health care system, can often leave families with conflicting information and advice. Palliative Care can help patients and their families not only understand and evaluate their treatment options but also navigate the health system overall.

We don’t talk about death to avoid the minor discomforts of listening to someone talk about their hardships or share your moments of grief with another, we shut down and hold all the feelings in. We trade one small moment of comfort for long moments of misery when emotions are not acknowledged, expressed, and even named.

What if we didn’t wait “to begin living each moment in a manner that is deeply engaged?”