Honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Through the Gift of Estate Planning
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to honor those who have fought, continue to fight, and have been affected by breast cancer. This month holds a very special place in my heart. In April, I lost my best friend to stage IV breast cancer.
As I reflect on my grandmother’s life, I am reminded that a legacy is about so much more than what we leave behind. It is about the love we share, the memories we create, and the peace of mind we can provide for the people who matter most to us.
My grandmother was one of the most caring and considerate people I have ever known. She had a beautiful way of making others feel loved and important. She was thoughtful in everything she did and always put the needs and feelings of others into consideration. That same thoughtfulness extended to the legacy she left behind. She had her estate planning in place, and because of that, she made an incredibly difficult time a little easier for our family. Her wishes were known, her affairs were in order, and we were able to focus more on what mattered most: spending time together, grieving together, and honoring her life.
Just two months after my grandmother passed away, I got married and began a new chapter of my life. As I look toward building a family of my own, I often think about the kind of woman she was and the example she set for me. I can only hope to be as loving, thoughtful, and considerate with my own family as she was with hers. Although I wish she could be here to see this chapter of my life, I hope to honor her by carrying the lessons she taught me into the family I build and the legacy I leave behind.
As an estate planning attorney, I often remind clients that estate planning is one of the most meaningful gifts they can give their loved ones. While thinking about the unexpected can be difficult, having a plan in place is a meaningful way to care for your loved ones and provide them with peace of mind during an overwhelming and heartbreaking time.
I encourage you to honor your own legacy by taking the time to put a plan in place. Because while we cannot always control what life brings, we can take steps to care for the people we leave behind.
That is part of her legacy, and one I hope to carry forward.
