Content

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• Method 1 of 1: Write a farewell speech
• Tips

Giving a farewell speech is a laudable act and a very important contribution to a commemoration ceremony. Friends and family will remember this contribution for a long time, so you may feel honored by your contribution to this difficult event. You certainly shouldn't feel overwhelmed by the idea; it is not that difficult to write a poignant farewell speech.

To step

Method 1 of 1: Write a farewell speech

1. Being confident Be sure of yourself and stay positive. Don't forget that you are able to write and deliver a beautiful farewell speech. Don't worry about whether you can write the perfect farewell speech; the most important thing is to give the best of yourself in the short amount of time you have and given the fragile state you are in. Don't bother with questions such as "What should I say?", "Will people like this?", "How long should it be?", "Where do I start?"
2. Look for inspiration in memories, stories, or feelings you felt for your loved one. You can browse photo books, watch old family videos or bring up clipping folders. Ask friends and family to share their stories and favorite memories.
3. Think about which tone you want to hit. It can be sad, serious, thoughtful or humorous. You know best which tone is appropriate.
4. Sketch the main points for the farewell speech. They will help you structure your thoughts and focus on the basic ideas and themes that will make the writing process easier. After you have listed the main ideas, you can divide each idea into smaller parts so that you don't lose sight of the details. The more details you integrate, the easier it will be to write a first draft.
   • You can outline the main points with the method that suits you best. You have traditional vertical summaries, with letters and roman numbers. You can also work with free association; this stimulates your creative thinking as you can move from one idea to another regardless of their interrelationships. Write the person's name at the top of the paper and as the ideas come up, write down a word or phrase that briefly summarizes that thought. For example: "charities."
5. Work out the ideas you have already written down. Write down everything that comes to mind. After you write down the main ideas, go back to your summary and number the main thoughts in the order you want to share them.
6. Write a first draft and don't forget that it doesn't have to be perfect. You are going through a difficult emotional time. If you're struggling to write, don't panic or give up. Give yourself some time to calm down. View your summary. It is important to note that the editing of a text is a large part of the writing process. Your draft will improve by working on it. Start slowly, without knowing exactly what you are going to say. Let the summary guide you and put your ideas on paper. Try writing a letter to your loved one to generate even more ideas (your farewell speech may take the form of a letter, by the way). Write as soon as possible. You have time later to correct mistakes and rewrite sentences.
7. Beginning of the farewell speech. Finding the right words to catch the attention of those in attendance can be one of the most difficult things in the writing process. If you don't know how to start the farewell speech, skip this step and keep writing. You can always come back to this. Do you want to say something funny? Something moving? Something profound? All these options are possible. But you want to get your audience involved, so what you choose has to be powerful. Here are some examples with which to start your farewell speech:
   • Quotes can be a funny, inspiring, spiritual, or religious way to start your farewell speech. This could be a quote from a famous person, your loved one, a friend, the Bible or any other book. Remember that such quotes can find their place throughout the farewell speech.
     • Johann W. von Goethe once said that an early death leads to a meaningless life. Fortunately, this cannot be said of Jennifer due to her exceptional existence. ”
     • “I remember Mark used to say," God sure has a sense of humor, or I wouldn't have married your mother. " I had to laugh every time he made fun of his fantastic marriage. Mark and Hilde were real kindred spirits. ”
   • Questions. Start the farewell speech with a question and also give the answer.
     • My father once asked me: "Bram, what would you wish if you were on your deathbed?" I looked at him in surprise. He said, “I can tell you what I will not say. I will not say I wish I had worked more or made more money. I will say I wish I had spent more time with my family. ” That's why he was such a wonderful father: he loved his family unconditionally. ”
   • A poem. A poem is a great way to write a farewell speech. You can write it yourself or read a poem that your loved one liked.
     • "The trees emerge from the ground / and the twigs from their trunk / and everyone thinks it is quite normal / that they get leaves again / We see them fall to the ground / and then grow again / as the earth has taught us / that everything that dies will bloom. " --Show Hermans
   • Continue with the farewell speech: the middle part of the farewell speech connects as closely as possible to the opening. When you close a topic, move on to the next topic in your summary. The more detailed your summary, the faster the actual writing will be. If you run out of ideas on a topic, just move on to the next topic and finish the rest.
8. Remember to integrate your audience into your text. Make sure they feel addressed. tell stories that make them laugh or cry. You want them to remember the person they knew or loved.
   • End the farewell speech: You want the ending to bring together everything you've said before. You want your listeners to feel like everything has been nicely rounded. You can repeat an important quality or theme that you have integrated in your farewell speech or you can summarize how your loved one has given meaning to your life. A quote or a poem is a great way to end.
9. Edit your farewell speech. Chances are that your first draft is perfect. Correct any mistakes you may have made or change the order of your ideas and topics. A few tips:
   • Use an informal style. Write as if you were writing a letter to an old friend. You don't want it to sound distant and boring.
   • Change the name of the deceased person. Don't just use "he", "she", "mom", "dad", "Kevin" or "Sara". Alternate. So you can say he was like that, and Kevin was, and so on. This reinforces the farewell speech and you also keep the listeners' attention.
   • Be brief. Say whatever you want to say, but remember it's important for the audience to keep listening. 3 to 5 minutes is a good length. Depending on the speed at which you talk, this corresponds to 1 to 3 pages.
10. Practice your farewell speech. The more you practice, the more confident you will have and the more impact your farewell speech will have. Practice as often as you can, in front of the mirror and in front of people. If you can already practice it in front of people, you will be less afraid of speaking in front of an audience. Your confidence will help you to speak in a natural and relaxed way. In this way you also learn your text by heart, which will give you the confidence to make eye contact with your audience.
11. Bring the farewell speech. This may be the hardest part of the whole process. But don't forget that everyone in the room is 1000% behind you. No one will be disappointed, no one will speak about your attitude, no one will criticize your statement. Everyone is there to remember your loved one and there will be many emotions. The same counts for you. It's no problem to pause for a moment while delivering the farewell speech. Try to stay calm and take your time.

Tips

• When typing out your farewell speech, use a large font so that you can read your text easily. Place three or four white lines between the lines or subjects. This way you always know where you are in the text.
• Have a handkerchief and a glass of water handy when you are giving your reason. They are very useful at that time. Avoid touching things that can make you nervous such as caffeine or other stimulants.
• If you don't like to write, you can also record ideas on camera or on a tape recorder. For some people, the ideas come up more easily.
• Nobody is perfect. The person who died probably also had negative sides. You can be honest and speak about this. But always do this with respect and place them in context along with his / her good qualities.