When our affairs are not in order, there is a little anxiety meter that runs in the back of our mind. It creates a high-pitch whistle in our sub-conscious that adds stress to every aspect of our life. It drains our energy and robs us of the complete enjoyment of life. We worry about what would happen if... Our anxiety is even greater when we have a spouse and children...
Setting your affairs in order is, at heart, an act of love - a way of sparing the people you care about from confusion at the worst possible moment. A current will, clear beneficiaries, and wishes written down where they can be found turn uncertainty into calm.
Everyone's situation is different, so the details are best worked out with a qualified attorney and financial professional. But the first step costs nothing but a little courage: simply beginning.
Originally published in View AZ Highlife Magazine, Dec 2007 / Jan 2008.