Just a couple of thoughts today not related to photography, instead related to the circle of life, and those left behind. As many of my readers know, we’ve had a couple of losses in our family circle recently. What we are learning the hard way is how easy it is to get wrapped up in our life, our possessions, our stuff, and not think about it at all.
Raymond Stittleburg
Karen Gutekunst
So here’s a few thoughts on what your survivors will find. Or maybe not, if you plan ahead.
Clean out your closets, drawers, file cabinets. Do you really need to keep all that stuff? Will your heirs know what it is? If it is important, to you at least, let someone else know what and why you have attached importance to something. We packed up a whole household of goods, gave most of it away to Goodwill, then weeks later learned the value of a couple of items. There’s a good chance we will never see it again. If we had known the significance of those items, we would have treated them with the respect they deserve.
On the other hand, we found personal or embarrassing items we think our loved ones would never have wanted us to find. If you have anything like that you are not using, get rid of it, now. Some things really are left better unsaid or unknown!
We all have albums and drawers full of old photos. Take an evening or two to go through them, toss the underexposed and blurry shots, the vague shots you have no idea why you took, and the unflattering ones. If you can, label the photos where you know the people, especially your ancestors. I collected a number of old photos which I sorted out by family, then sent them on to those relatives. The photos were more meaningful to them as they were of their direct relations, and were images never before seen, of ancestors, or themselves as children. What a lovely memory for them to receive!
On the financial end make sure you have a current will, and your family knows where to find it. Make sure they all know of your end of life decisions – do you want extraordinary measures or a peaceful passing, cremation or funeral? The more planning you can do, the more your family will thank you. My father had his accounts set up as transfer on death – which meant we didn’t have to go through probate and the executor knew exactly what money went where. What a time saver! Yes, it is depressing to plan our own funerals, but who else knows better what you want? And to have it planned ahead in calm moments rather than by your grieving, distraught family members is such an amazing gift you can give them.
Life is too precious, enjoy yours while you can, and take steps to help your heirs remember you fondly and in the manner you want to be thought of.
