By Kyle Tevlin

Contemplating your own funeral is not for the faint of heart. No one wants a lackluster, generic funeral, but without some planning ahead, that is often the final memory survivors are left with.

I’m on a mission to change this—to raise the bar and pull out all the stops when it comes to saying good-bye. We live amazing, incredible and valuable lives that deserve at least a party, and perhaps a standing ovation!

It starts with thinking ahead to your own parting. Give your family some creative ideas for how to celebrate your life with laughter and joy. The reality is that they need your permission to have fun instead of abject sadness. They want your personality in your good-bye party—and I know how to make that happen, and have the process be easy, enlightening and even educational. (And did I mention fun?)

There are so many new alternatives and little-known ways of saying good-bye. Forget dreadful—it’s practically a delight to discover what’s possible these days.

It’s time to take it up a notch in honoring the wonderful lives we lead. Let’s start saying good-bye to each other with a kind of love and gratitude that fits the occasion. And like most things we want to transform, it starts at home, with ourselves.

Put a little life into your last wishes, with creativity, intention and, yes, even fun. It might be the best move you’ve never considered making.

Kyle Tevlin is founder of I Want a Fun Funeral, providing custom events—including special locations and themes—to celebrate a life. For more information, visit IWantAFunFuneral.com or call 215-348-4306.