You can have the talk of a lifetime with anyone you hold dear – parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, spouse.

It can happen anywhere you or your loved ones are most comfortable – over a meal, at home, on a walk, while playing a game – and it might be a one-to-one dialogue or include other family members or friends. And remember, your ‘talk’ can take place at any time, not just at the end of life.

Using a photo album can be a great way to start a conversation, as can a specific location, and having the talk should be a two-way dialogue, providing an opportunity for you to share some of the ways your loved ones have impacted your life and the lives of others.

Doing so will also help them understand what part THEY have played in YOUR life and, if proof were needed, they will see that they matter to you as much as you do to them.