2018 -Are you ready to getter done? Make this years goals rock!
2018… what a start! So the first week of the new year, my computer crashes… not the way to start a new year, right?
A few weeks later, I’m having a great time training and learning about close quarter defense by The Complete Combatant in Marietta, GA. I can’t wait to get home and share with my husband all the things I’d learned and more importantly what I discovered by”actually using” my equipment… and…I discovered how important training is because some of my gear wasn’t working so well.
I realized I wasn’t prepared as I thought. I discovered that was true in other ways, too.
There’s nothing like a crisis to bring a clear perspective. Instead of sharing the exciting things I had just practiced and experienced; my husband had something more important to share- about a family member who was hospitalized suddenly. The kind that takes back. In spite of extremely difficult situations and circumstances, suddenly, the world stops going full speed ahead and the things that really matter starts to become very clear. Except,time.Here we are loosing track of time and it’s already February.
Family, relationships, loved ones and friends are what matters most. No one says they need to work more.
I write this personal experience because of the eye opening reality of life that hits home. Along with a note for myself to put on top of my “To do” list. It’s in sharing this that hopefully, you and those that matter most to you, are spared unnecessary hardships and take care of things before it’s too late.
We all get busy; jobs, kids, activities, social life or social platforms/media (right?), and just finding ‘me’ time too. The trouble with all of that is we never think anything will happen to us … or at least not UNTIL we’ve “prepared” for it. The time for doing – planning those unpleasant things, just never seems to get scheduled. But LIFE happens- ready or not.
I recently discovered how important it is to make time for planning. Taking action. Make time to take action on all those things you keep putting off.
All this comes to light in the recent passing of a family member who lived by himself in another city with minor children . We found ourselves in a particular situation of not knowing anything. Not knowing if there was a last will and testament, what his wishes would be (and for his children), and what to do with his things and where his final resting place should be. How do we contact and find his children, close friends? Who do we need to notify? We found ourselves with more questions than answers in an emotionally stressful time.
Why do we keep putting these things off?
Because it’s hard – hard to decided on who will get what when we leave this earth. Do you really want to think about death? Have you taken the time to make a will for yourself? Do you have a living will? WHO knows where to find this information and how to access it? What if something happened to you when you were by yourself? Do you have allergies to medications? What information would EMS need if you were in an accident? What sort of information would you want medical/ EMS/ first responders to know if you couldn’t tell them and how/ what can you do to make sure they would know these important and potentially life saving things?
In today’s era for concern with cyber security and identity theft, we perhaps are unknowingly making things a bit tougher on our loved ones in attempts to be safe. Do you have a pass code on your cell-phone? Do you use Face recognition? or Thumb print? set of numbers or a pattern?
Who would know how to gain access to the stored information? Mainly, contacts…
As this new year begins, lets take care of some things for (us) and our loved ones. I challenge you to:
1. Commit to writing a will, and a living will
2. Tell at least 1 person or more where to find (and access) this personal information
3. Have a list of accounts, passwords, and contact information
4. Write out or discuss your funeral wishes with someone. This is a great expression of love to your remaining family members and friends.
It may not be the greatest thing to think about but it is so important. You may be the one left behind to try and figure out what your loved one would want; when you’re in the midst of having an emotional train wreck. Take the time to build (rebuild) family relationship(s). How ’bout spending time with the whole family at the dinner table, and TALK. Remember the TV show the “Walton’s”? Don’t let pride get in the the way. Seek forgiveness if you need to. Holding on to anger, keeping a grudge or feud only creates bitterness within the one holding on to the “wrong” done to them. In the big picture; Life is short; we are only here for a brief time so make the best of it everyday.
We believe faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and family / loved ones are what truly matters. Isn’t that why you learned to shoot and carry concealed weapon(s). That’s why we train. Let’s protect our family and loved ones. Let’s make some decisions and plan for those events that may scare us. Knowing what your loved one’s wishes are and having a Will can help you navigate more easily in the midst of a raging sea.
Wishing you well in training and planning to protect those you love. What matters most are your family, friends, and loved ones. Make moments count.
XO,
Jan
Leave us a comment on how you can make more time or spend more time with family, friends, and loved ones.
