After seeing snippets from Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” I started thinking (after I stopped crying) what would I do differently if I knew I only had six months to live?
I think people find it morbid to talk about death especially in the black community it’s almost a taboo subject, which is ridiculous because the fact is we are all going to die- someday. There have been instances within my extended family and even when my mother-in-law passed away- where the lack of a plan for “final arrangements” left the bereaved in a tough spot not only emotionally but also financially because there was no life insurance.
I think we need to not only open up a dialogue about death in our community but in our respective households. Your spouse or someone close to you (if you are not married) should be made of aware of all the life insurance policies you have and contact information for activating those policies upon your death, if you have a checking, savings, 401k or other financial accounts be sure to update your beneficiaries annually, be sure to designate a power of attorney in the event you are injured and cannot make medical or financial decisions for yourself and finally consider pre-arranged funeral options such as paying in advance for a burial plot or casket. Then once you have all that morbid business out of the way, start living your life to the FULLEST each day!
I thank God daily for my health both physical and mental but if I were given a fatal diagnosis with only six months to live I would:
1. Kiss my husband and son even more each day
2. Write my life story- that way when my son is telling his children about me they’ll get the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
3. Start a literacy program at a local inner city school with a plan for it’s continuation for years to come
4. Let my hair go natural
5. Take my son to the Bahamas (because he’s been asking to go)
6. Spend more time with my mother and sister
7. Try to finish at least one fiction story that I’ve started- I would compile the others on a disc (or USB drive) and leave them for my son.
The only thing I would regret is not seeing the wonderful man that I KNOW man son is going to become. But no matter what happens, I thank God for the opportunity of having him in my life now and getting the chance to be his mother for however long I am allowed.
NOTE: ALWAYS HAVE A SEPARATE PERSONAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY FROM THE POLICY THROUGH YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT! IF YOU LEAVE THAT JOB UNLESS YOU CONVERT THE POLICY YOU NO LONGER HAVE THAT INSURANCE, I DON’T CARE HOW MANY PREMIUMS YOU HAVE PAID. IT IS DIRT CHEAP TO GET A POLICY IF YOU ARE IN GOOD HEALTH AND UNDER AGE 40!!!!!! (Yes, I am yelling!)
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Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Life and Death
After seeing snippets from Randy Pausch’s “last lecture” I started thinking (after I stopped crying) what would I do differently if I knew I only had six months to live?
I think people find it morbid to talk about death especially in the black community it’s almost a taboo subject, which is ridiculous because the fact is we are all going to die- someday. There have been instances within my extended family and even when my mother-in-law passed away- where the lack of a plan for “final arrangements” left the bereaved in a tough spot not only emotionally but also financially because there was no life insurance.
I think we need to not only open up a dialogue about death in our community but in our respective households. Your spouse or someone close to you (if you are not married) should be made of aware of all the life insurance policies you have and contact information for activating those policies upon your death, if you have a checking, savings, 401k or other financial accounts be sure to update your beneficiaries annually, be sure to designate a power of attorney in the event you are injured and cannot make medical or financial decisions for yourself and finally consider pre-arranged funeral options such as paying in advance for a burial plot or casket. Then once you have all that morbid business out of the way, start living your life to the FULLEST each day!
I thank God daily for my health both physical and mental but if I were given a fatal diagnosis with only six months to live I would:
1. Kiss my husband and son even more each day
2. Write my life story- that way when my son is telling his children about me they’ll get the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
3. Start a literacy program at a local inner city school with a plan for it’s continuation for years to come
4. Let my hair go natural
5. Take my son to the Bahamas (because he’s been asking to go)
6. Spend more time with my mother and sister
7. Try to finish at least one fiction story that I’ve started- I would compile the others on a disc (or USB drive) and leave them for my son.
The only thing I would regret is not seeing the wonderful man that I KNOW man son is going to become. But no matter what happens, I thank God for the opportunity of having him in my life now and getting the chance to be his mother for however long I am allowed.
NOTE: ALWAYS HAVE A SEPARATE PERSONAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY FROM THE POLICY THROUGH YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT! IF YOU LEAVE THAT JOB UNLESS YOU CONVERT THE POLICY YOU NO LONGER HAVE THAT INSURANCE, I DON’T CARE HOW MANY PREMIUMS YOU HAVE PAID. IT IS DIRT CHEAP TO GET A POLICY IF YOU ARE IN GOOD HEALTH AND UNDER AGE 40!!!!!! (Yes, I am yelling!)
I think people find it morbid to talk about death especially in the black community it’s almost a taboo subject, which is ridiculous because the fact is we are all going to die- someday. There have been instances within my extended family and even when my mother-in-law passed away- where the lack of a plan for “final arrangements” left the bereaved in a tough spot not only emotionally but also financially because there was no life insurance.
I think we need to not only open up a dialogue about death in our community but in our respective households. Your spouse or someone close to you (if you are not married) should be made of aware of all the life insurance policies you have and contact information for activating those policies upon your death, if you have a checking, savings, 401k or other financial accounts be sure to update your beneficiaries annually, be sure to designate a power of attorney in the event you are injured and cannot make medical or financial decisions for yourself and finally consider pre-arranged funeral options such as paying in advance for a burial plot or casket. Then once you have all that morbid business out of the way, start living your life to the FULLEST each day!
I thank God daily for my health both physical and mental but if I were given a fatal diagnosis with only six months to live I would:
1. Kiss my husband and son even more each day
2. Write my life story- that way when my son is telling his children about me they’ll get the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
3. Start a literacy program at a local inner city school with a plan for it’s continuation for years to come
4. Let my hair go natural
5. Take my son to the Bahamas (because he’s been asking to go)
6. Spend more time with my mother and sister
7. Try to finish at least one fiction story that I’ve started- I would compile the others on a disc (or USB drive) and leave them for my son.
The only thing I would regret is not seeing the wonderful man that I KNOW man son is going to become. But no matter what happens, I thank God for the opportunity of having him in my life now and getting the chance to be his mother for however long I am allowed.
NOTE: ALWAYS HAVE A SEPARATE PERSONAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY FROM THE POLICY THROUGH YOUR PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT! IF YOU LEAVE THAT JOB UNLESS YOU CONVERT THE POLICY YOU NO LONGER HAVE THAT INSURANCE, I DON’T CARE HOW MANY PREMIUMS YOU HAVE PAID. IT IS DIRT CHEAP TO GET A POLICY IF YOU ARE IN GOOD HEALTH AND UNDER AGE 40!!!!!! (Yes, I am yelling!)
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