I work with a group called Compassion & Choices in California. It's attempting to get death with dignity legalised in California, the idea being that so goes California, so goes the rest of the U.S., at least. Caitlin Doughty attemptcaliforniacall share on social
Death in its natural state can be very beautiful. When you think about a body that's died of natural causes - family taking care of it - all of that is very beautiful. Caitlin Doughty beautifulbodycare Change image and share on social
The biggest problem is the funerals that don't exist. People call the funeral home, they pick up the body, they mail the ashes to you, no grief, no happiness, no remembrance, no nothing. That happens more often than it doesn't in the United States. Caitlin Doughty ashebigbody share on social
The home funeral - caring for the dead ourselves - changes our relationship to grieving. If you have been married to someone for 50 years, why would you let someone take them away the moment they die? Caitlin Doughty caredeaddie Change image and share on social
Ever since childhood, when I found out that the ultimate fate for all humans was death, sheer terror and morbid curiosity had been fighting for supremacy in my mind. Caitlin Doughty childhoodcuriositydeath Change image and share on social
Accepting your own mortality is like eating your vegetables: You may not want to do it, but it's good for you. Caitlin Doughty accepteatgood Change image and share on social
Vaults and caskets are not the law; they are the policy of individual cemeteries. Vaults prevent the settling of the dirt around the body, thus making landscaping more uniform and cost effective. As an added bonus, vaults can be customized and sold at a markup. Faux marble? Bronze? Take your pick, family. Caitlin Doughty addbodybonus share on social
For thousands of years, we did have death surrounding us, and we did have people die in the home. You would take care of your own end. You would do ritual processes, and you would be involved in it, and that's been taken away in the Western world. Caitlin Doughty caredeathdie share on social
One of the things that was most shocking to me about starting to work in the funeral industry is just how industrial the environment is. Caitlin Doughty environmentfuneralindustrial Change image and share on social
All the body wants to do biologically is decompose. Once you die, it's, 'Let me out here! I'm ready to shoot my atoms back into the universe!' Caitlin Doughty atombackbiologically Change image and share on social