Dearly Beloved, We are Gathered Here Today to Celebrate this Thing Called Life

We've all heard the joke and it goes something like this:  Poll after poll shows that Americans' greatest fear is public speaking.  We even fear it more than death.  That means that at a funeral, most Americans would rather be IN the coffin than standing there giving the eulogy.

Giving a eulogy requires a different sort of preparation than most public presentations.  It is one of only a couple of instances in which manuscript speaking is both encouraged and appropriate.

The best discussion of eulogizing can be found in an Esquire magazine article I stumbled upon a few years ago.  Is this a good time to mention that I think everyone should read Esquire?  It has spot-on tips on fashion and grooming as well as compelling and thought-provoking articles on celebrities, books, movies, pop culture, current events, social issues and everyday life.

Do yourself a favor:  read this article and you'll actually hope for the chance to put these eulogizing tips into practice.