In the last days of my mom’s life, it was up to me to choose her course of treatment. To say it was an emotional time is an understatement. But what ended up being the most helpful to me was the fact that I had had countless conversations with her about life and how she wanted to live. Because of these important conversations, I was confident in the medical decisions I made for her when she was unable to make them for herself.
Death. It can arrive slowly or suddenly, but it’s the inevitable ending for all of us. Unfortunately, the reality is that so many of us are not prepared for it. And while there’s almost nothing you can do to prepare your loved ones for the emotional toll of losing you, there are specific steps you can take with regards to your wishes and finances.
In episode 15 of the Black Girl Fly podcast, Tenisha and I start a conversation about preparing for death. We talk about life insurance policies, conversations with your loved ones, and about how to ensure that your finances are in order. We also discuss thinking about how we want to be remembered when we die and how to leave behind a legacy for the next generation.
It’s a difficult topic to think about, but now is the time to start getting these items in order, especially in the midst of the pandemic. By doing the work upfront, your loved ones can focus on remembering and celebrating you, rather than debate about what you might have wanted.
Need someplace to start? There are plenty of checklists online, including It’s OK to Die, which has resources for your own death and the death of a loved one. And while this can be a challenging activity, remember to keep in mind: this is about preparing your legacy. It’s about securing what you will leave behind.
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