Any tips on how not to cry while reading aloud at a funeral?

Question

I've agreed to do a reading for my nan's funeral - it's a poem of only 8 lines, but I'm a bit concerned I'm going to end up breaking down crying halfway through it! It's a nice uplifting one, so for the benefit of everyone listening, I'd like to be able to get through it rather than struggling to get the words out.

I've done a fair bit of acting over the years, but normally that requires you to find the emotion in the words and believe you're a character. Well there's already enough real emotion there so I need to kinda detatch myself from the words, but not so much that I garble through it and make it sound like i've been forced to do it against my will!

Anyone got any advice?

Answer 1

I read at my fathers funeral, and the only thing that stopped me from breaking down right then and there is the thought that I wanted everyone to know what I had to say. So I tried to suck it up to get the message across. It is hard, probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do.



It's a nice poem, good luck with it.

Answer 2

I'm sorry that you lost your grandma...that can be really hard.

If you want to read it aloud without crying, try not to look at anybody in the audience directly, and concentrate on reading the words, instead of thinking about the meaning. If you feel like you're going to break down, take a deep breath or bite your lip. You can do it...

Again, sorry for your loss. And it's quite a beautiful poem.

Answer 3

I had to read part of my boyfs fathers "goodbye letter" at his funeral...it was the most emotional bit about his wife that no one else could say without crumbling...but i did it....no tears, got his point across for him and everyone was proud of me for doing so.

I managed it by reading it aloud every chance i got and even singing it to music when i had the radio on...took away the fear of crying....not sure it will work for you as its ur Nan (id only known the man a few years), just keep in mind the service your doing for her and how proud she will be to hear you speak those words about her.



oh and as soon as i got back from the wake..i went to my bedroom and blubbed like a baby...i miss him..he was a real gent.

Answer 4

Don't look at the family members who are crying or you will lose it.



Imagine the scenes as you read it. I saw a woman who was very much alive sitting in a chair, next to a fire, writing in a journal.



Shakespeare wrote Sonnet 73 about being older and about how death would come soon for him.



You could imagine yourself as the poet writing the words about how you want to be remembered, like Shakespeare did.



Hugs to you.

Answer 5

Read the poem again to yourself. TRY to do what the poem says. Read/rehearse if you must the poem several times before you have to recite it so the words become more familiar. Think about the part that she wanted everyone to be happy and not shed any tears.

Answer 6

Oh guy...I cried a lot on a similar time as analyzing those books... enable's see: e book 4 - Cried while Voldemort and Harry are interior the Priori Incantatem information superhighway and the "ghost" of Cedric tells him to take his physique back e book 5 - Sirius dies e book 6 - Dumbledore's insanity after ingesting the potion and then him later telling Harry that he depended on him. additionally while Draco and Dumbledore are speaking on the tower staggering earlier Dumbledore dies. i actually lost it while Dumbledore died... e book 7 - I cried the main of all in this e book. I absolutly lost it and had to place the e book down for approximately 10 minutes while Fred died. i could no longer end crying. It replaced into horribly unhappy. i'm no longer able to study that area with out crying now. I aslo lost it while Harry is strolling to his loss of existence and he turns the Stone and asks if it hurts to die. GAH! that's kinda unhappy, yet I cried slightly while Voldemort died...it replaced into basically so ironic the way it exceeded off...OH! and that i cried for an prolonged time for the time of Snape's loss of existence and his strategies after that.

Answer 7

This is just my opinion but I think you should let it come out in whichever way it does. It's your Grandma and you can't supress your grief and others there as well are going to be grieving and I don't think you should detach yourself from something that is so real and emotional. I mean you aren't trying out for a role, and I do not mean any disrespect by that at all. I think you should be yourself, people appreciate people being real.

Answer 8

My advice is to eat some chocolate about a half-hour before you have to read it and right before you have to read it to keep the taste in your mouth. A hershey kiss or snack size hershey bar should be the right portion. Dark chocolate has more cacoa and therefore has a stronger effect. I say this because of some researched-based health benefits of chocolate such as:



*The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.



* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.



*The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being



Other than eating chocolate, another option is to try not to think too much about what you're reading. Imagine it's not a funeral, you're simply giving a presentation. Don't think about the words; they obviously have meaning and I don't think lack of emotion is seriously going to be a problem in this kind of setting.

Answer 9

Look at the funeral as a celebration of a life lived for someone who bought happiness to you. This is her send off, so make it a good one.

Answer 10

This is a funeral. It is ok to cry. Let the visitors know that you crying tears of love and how much you will this person. There is nothing wrong with tears.

Answer 11

I've read that one celebrated orator whose name escapes me conquered nervousness when speaking by imagining the audience were all nude. That would tend to prompt counter-productive laughter with me.

But - and I truly don't intend this to be a flippant answer - if one could imagine it is a luau rather than a wake it might help.

Answer 12

I don't understand why breaking down and crying would be so wrong?



However, if you insist on keeping a stiff upper lip, I suggest totally numbing yourself to the situation. I don't know quite how to explain it, but if you've been there you know what putting your life on autopilot is like.

Answer 13

deep breaths during the pauses helped me read for my aunts funeral. Listen to what you're saying and remember what you're conveying is positive. If you do cry, it's not the end of the world.

Answer 14

There are numerous many stories out there that don't have movies. Books can explore ideas and principles and never have to fret in regards to a special effects budget.

Answer 15

normally i watch a great deal of television but i really do love a good booklet if i get into the book i wont input it down and i love that i reach use my creativeness a lot more than with a tv

Answer 16

Nobody can give you tips to stop crying. It's perfectly natural to cry whilst you're reading so just take your time and do your Nan proud.

Good luck

Answer 17

My dad wrote the Eulogy for his son. He said it well but he was still upset before hand you should keep upbeat thoughts I know its hard but I did you can do it too. When saying it look for a familiar face and keep your eyes on them!

Answer 18

like sal said look at the paper and think of all the good times u spent with this person

googd luck

Answer 19

I'm so sorry for your loss. If you do cry during your poem, just know that everyone will understand.

Answer 20

Thats lovely.



DON'T make eye contact with anyone. Keep your eyes on the page you are reading from, or up high. Good luck.

Answer 21

Concentrate on something special. Like... think about the sun whenever you are reading.

Answer 22

i am sooooooooo sorry about your nan. just try not to make eye contact with anyone. and if you have to cry just cry. that will show everyone that you care about your nan. agian im sorry

Answer 23

Edit. Thought better of what I said when I realized

it was someone special to you.

Answer 24

all i can say is try to think of something totally off the wall while reading.

Answer 25

i have just read the poem and its great i am sure you will do well and your family will be proud of you no matter what

Answer 26

If you feel like crying its best to cry

Answer 27

i don't know wot 2 say 2 u babes

Answer 28

If you cry, you cry. Just let it happen.

Answer 29

I LOVE THE POEM I TRIED NOT TO CRY WHEN I DID IT TO BUT YOU CAN NOT HOLD BACK YOUR FEELINGS IF YOU DONT CRY PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT YOU AS A HEARTLESS PERSON.