| Delivering a Memorable Eulogy |
Writing and giving a eulogy is a way of saying farewell to someone who has died that, in a sense, brings the person to life in the minds of the audience. For some people, the opportunity to speak during the funeral service about the person they knew is a welcome one. But even if you’re used to speaking in public, finding words to say can be difficult because of the special circumstances of a funeral. You may be coping with your own grief. You may feel a heavy burden of responsibility to make sure you say the right things. For those of you that do not enjoy speaking in public this adds another element – fear into an already emotional period in your life. What do I say? How long do I talk for? What are the right things to say and what are the wrong things to say? What happens if I break down? How do I appropriately honor this person?
There are three things that drive peoples’ fears. First is a fear of the unknown, for many, this eulogy will be their first and they do not know the appropriate etiquette or protocol in delivering a speech. The second is time. Unlike many other speeches, you do not have adequate time to prepare for a eulogy. Finally, people are concerned about what they should and shouldn’t say and how to strike the right chord in remembrance of the one they loved.
In this book we will spend some time discussing what normally occurs at a eulogy and some do’s and don’t. We will help you navigate through some of the traditions. Finally, not knowing what to say or how to say it can also created some anxiety. We will help you craft that special message and we provide examples of other eulogies in www.podiumnotes.com.
One of the major mistakes people make when they deliver a speech is that they become too formal or mechanized in their approach. When they speak they are a mere resemblance to their former self. One thing people forget is that at a funeral almost everyone will know you. They know your mannerisms they know your speaking style and they have certain expectations about your speech. We will provide you with some practice techniques that will help you deliver a memorable eulogy in your own style.We will show you techniques on how to be prepared to make changes to your speech at a moment’s notice, particularly if there will be multiple people speaking. $17 |
