The Gift of Security - the Greatest Gift of All

What are you giving for the holidays? You may be making lists, shopping like crazy, or trying your hand at things home made this year. I'd like to offer another choice. The very sudden passing of the husband of a dear friend has caused me to go back to the roots of my business. The subject of planning for the unexpected and for the inevitable. This was a gentleman in perfect health, they thought they had many more years together before old age and illness set in. A sudden stroke changed everything. There were no powers of atto ey, no advance directives, no will – not even a discussion about what he would want should disaster strike. Now that it has happened, his wife has had to make decisions that no one should ever have to make during a time of emotional crisis. No one likes to admit that they are not going to be around forever. No one wants to face the inevitability of leaving this life. But, even though you do not believe it will ever happen to you, it may. And if it does, is it fair to leave your loved ones wondering what you would have wanted, wondering if they are doing the right thing? The surviving family members are the ones left to suffer not only your having left them, they may suffer feelings of guilt for the remainder of their lives. Will they spend hours, days, years wondering if they've made the right decisions? Will they always second guess those choices they were forced to make when they were not emotionally prepared to do so? Perhaps you believe they will just know the right thing to do. Perhaps you believe there is still time, hence you procrastinate until it's too late. Perhaps you are selfish enough to believe it doesn't matter. But it does matter to those left behind to pick up the pieces, sort through the mess and attempt to go forward. Don't put it off one more day You may not wish to enter into a long discussion about such serious matters during the holidays. Why not do it now, or put a few things in writing now and give it your spouse with a holiday card telling him or her how much you care for them and that you want to protect them as much as possible. Visit an atto ey or at the very least, prepare a simple will on your own. Anything is better than nothing, but if you do it on your own, add to your note the date you promise to complete the process. No, it's not the equivalent of a diamond necklace, but if the time ever comes, that piece of paper could be so much more valuable.