Behind Greatness by Inspire North 225. Lisa Smartt – Literary Specialist / Author / Researcher of the Unravelling - Being of Service
Dec 14, 2025
Lisa Smartt, a literary specialist and author of "Words at the Threshold," shares her intriguing insights into language and consciousness, especially as we approach death. She discusses the fascinating shift in speech patterns near death, highlighting the beauty of humor and metaphor during this time. Lisa recounts personal stories, including a poignant moment with her mother, and emphasizes the need for curiosity over fear at the bedside. Her extensive research reveals unique patterns in end-of-life language, inviting deeper understanding and connection.
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Language Shapes Consciousness
- Lisa Smartt frames her life's work around language and consciousness, exploring how words shape and limit experience.
- She studies how language empowers, constrains, and reveals human motivation and meaning.
A Firefighter Held A Healing Moment
- Lisa recounts her dying mother asking the firefighters to witness a direct apology to her daughter for prioritizing her husband over her child.
- The senior fireman placed their hands together and held the moment, which Lisa says erased much pain.
Use Bedside Journals, Not Recorders
- Lisa avoided bedside recorders and instead invited families to keep bedside journals to record dying language ethically.
- She also collected accounts via a website and interviews with hospice staff to build credible data.
