We all know people who act as though they are immortal; unlike the rest of us, they have unlimited time to accomplish whatever they want to do. Tomorrow will always be there for them; they have all the time in the world to get to their “to-do” list. As an estate planning attorney, I’ve thought about those individuals and wondered how it plays out in their daily lives. Factually speaking 100% of us will in fact die at some point. Most don’t know when, but no one lives forever. So, it is interesting that only about 50% of adults in the US have wills. Do the rest think they will “beat the system” somehow? No, I’m pretty sure deep down, as much as they don’t want to think about it, they do know they will die someday. But they all believe there is still time to get their affairs in order.
I wondered how this consistent practice of “I’ll get to it next week, next month, next year” might impact other areas of their lives … not just procrastinating getting their estate plan together. If someone operates like they have unlimited time left, it may:
- Cause them to miss potentially fantastic opportunities in life – what a shame.
- Encourage them to avoid responsibilities, assuming there will be time later to handle them. That can put a big strain on relationships or impact work performance.
- Seriously impair their ability to fully engage in the present.
- Reduce the likelihood that they will make practical plans for the future, such as retirement, managing their health, or creating a will and trust to protect their hard-earned assets and loved ones.
- Risk eroding their relationships by taking people for granted, assuming they’ll always be around.
The purpose of this post is simple. If you tend to live in the “there is always tomorrow” mindset, I encourage you to consider how it may impact more than just your estate plan. Stop thinking you have plenty of time to accomplish whatever you want – seeing an old friend again, hugging your child, or even making the doctor’s appointment for a check-up. Accepting our own mortality helps us be in the present and to relish joyful moments with friends and family because we understand there is a time limit for all of us. Getting your affairs in order isn’t so much about you but doing what you can to protect your loved ones from the burdens they’ll face if you don’t.
I don’t mean to come across as “preachy,” so please don’t take it that way. I encourage everyone to consider the consequences of not having a will or estate plan. It won’t be you who will suffer or be burdened. It will fall to your loved ones. Please consider calling me to discuss your estate plan. I promise you one thing – you will appreciate the tremendous satisfaction of having done what you can for those you love, which is truly priceless. Call me at 513-399-7526 to schedule our consultation, or visit my website, www.davidlefton.com, for more information.