Life, Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure

By Oceana Sawyer

Book Description

Life, Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure

Oceana Sawyer shows how it is possible to elevate many of our life events - including death and gri

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good to Better Group
• Release date: Jun 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9780578372488

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Case for Pleasure

The Missing Element

When we talk about caring for ourselves and loved ones over the course of our lives, we might speak of exercising, eating nutrient-dense foods, and getting enough sleep. When we talk about caring for ourselves and loved ones as the time of death draws nigh, we might speak of pain management, comfort care, and breathing. While all of these elements certainly are significant to our living and dying well, I believe one critical component has been overlooked in both seasons of life: pleasure.

If your eyebrows rose in some surprise, you’re not alone. Culturally, we don’t value pleasure, which I’ll define here as simply feeling good. I contend, though, that pleasure is a vital aspect of our wellbeing and humanity, and that consciously considering it as we live, die, and grieve will improve our experiences immeasurably.

This is such a big and lovely idea that I want to explore it in some depth. Let’s start with a rather audacious hypothesis that pleasure is not only important to us but also the point of it all!

Why Pleasure Is the