On the 137th episode of What is a Good Life?, I’m delighted to welcome Diane Button. Diane is a founding partner of the Bay Area End-of-Life Doula Alliance in Northern California, and the best-selling author of Dear Death: Finding Meaning in Life, Peace in Death, and Joy in an Ordinary Day and The Doula Tool Kit: The Complete Practical Guide for End-of-Life Doulas & Caregivers (co-authored with Angela Shook and Gabby Jimenez). She holds a master’s degree in Counselling Psychology, works as a practicing end-of-life doula, and serves as a lead instructor in the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine’s End-of-Life Doula Certificate Program. Her latest book is the inspiring What Matters Most.

In our conversation, Diane shares the profound insights she has gained through her work, emphasising the power of presence, the value of embracing all emotions, and the joy found in life’s simplest moments.

Together, we explore how the beauty of ordinary days and the wisdom of those facing death can illuminate what it truly means to live well and meet life’s final chapter with grace.

For Diane's latest book, What Matters Most:
To buy your copy: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/768705/what-matters-most-by-diane-button/
About the book: https://www.dianebutton.com/what-matters-most
Website: https://www.dianebutton.com

For more from Mark McCartney:
Newsletter: https://www.whatisagood.life/
Website: https://www.mmcleadership.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-mccartney-14b0161b4/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@whatisagoodlife
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcmccartney

00:00 Reflections on the book

02:10 The depth of the role of an End of Life Doula

04:45 Experiencing everything

08:44 The cultivation of presence

14:00 Pausing and slowing down

17:00 An awareness of joy

21:20 An expression of gratitude

25:30 The process of writing the book

31:55 Not waiting to celebrate life

36:30 Distilling what matter most

40:30 The simple moments

43:30 Legacy work with the dying

48:00 Regrets over the little things

52:30 Self-love, acceptance, and authenticity

1:00:00 Comfort with grief and conflicting emotions

1:08:00 The importance of our small acts

Keywords: Meaning of Life Interviews | meaning of life conversations | exploring life | big life questions | meaning of life discussions | creating a meaningful life​