Nobody knows …
Nobody Knows... Until You Tell Them
Every year on 8 August, Australians mark Dying to Know Day. This campaign encourages us to have open, honest conversations about death, dying, grief and planning ahead. While it may sound like an unusual topic for a national awareness day, its purpose is simple: to help us feel more confident talking about something that will touch every one of us.
This year's theme, "Nobody Knows," is a powerful reminder that the people we love can't honour our wishes if we've never shared them. Whether it's your preferred medical care, where you'd like to be cared for, your funeral wishes, or even the song you'd like played at your farewell, nobody knows unless you tell them.
As an End-of-Life Doula, I often hear people say, "I've been meaning to get around to it." Life gets busy, and planning ahead can feel overwhelming. But here's the good news: it doesn't have to be.
Planning ahead isn't about expecting the worst. It's about making things easier for the people you love. It gives them clarity instead of uncertainty, guidance instead of guesswork, and confidence that they're honouring your wishes.
You don't have to complete everything in one day. In fact, we encourage people to simply take one small step.
That might be:
starting a conversation with someone you trust;
writing down what's important to you;
updating your Will;
completing an Advance Care Directive or appointing a Medical Treatment Decision Maker;
recording your funeral wishes; or
gathering your important documents in one place.
Every conversation you have and every decision you record is a gift to the people who may one day need to make decisions on your behalf.
One of my favourite questions from this year's Dying to Know Day campaign is, "What's your final song?" It might seem light-hearted, but it's a wonderful conversation starter. Sometimes the easiest way to begin talking about end-of-life wishes is to start with something personal, meaningful … or even a little fun.
This Dying to Know Day, we encourage you to start the conversation. Not because you're planning to die anytime soon, but because planning ahead is one of the most caring things you can do for yourself and the people you love.
If you're not sure where to begin, we'd be honoured to help. At The Practical Doula, we provide gentle, practical support to help individuals and families navigate end-of-life planning with confidence, compassion and clarity. One conversation at a time.