It is that time of year for eggnog and Yule logs, menorahs and dreidels, Christmas carols and Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Ralphie and the Griswolds, and so much more that puts us all in the holiday spirit. While this time of year is joyous for most, it is also very stressful. Families gather near and far and before too long, personalities begin to clash. Sibling rivalry is magnified, differences with in-laws mount, parents comment on their children’s childrearing and all the while, everyone just shrugs their shoulders and says, “We’re family.”
And that truly is it – you are family. When it is all boiled down, you love one another unconditionally. You’ve seen each other through the worst of times and the best of times, with many more times of both to come. And all the material wealth in the world does not make up for the wealth of a loving family.
The four of us Epilawgers talk about death on a daily basis. Doing so makes us inherently grateful for our families and reminds us everyday to cherish them. Death is a fact of life; it is inescapable and something we will all face one day. It is something we all try to hold at bay for as long as possible but when the time comes, we know that proper planning will alleviate potential problems for surviving loved ones and ensure that they are protected and provided for.
We have tried throughout the past year to emphasize the importance of proper planning for your future – for all of the unknowns and inevitables. We understand that life is busy and it is difficult to make the time to meet with your trusted advisors. While this time of year your focus is on spending time with loved ones, it does not have to mean that you cannot utilize the time together to start the dialogue. Whether it is convincing parents to draft their estate plan, talking with siblings about moving parents to assisted living, or spouses finally selecting guardians for minor children, starting the conversation is the first step to putting a plan in place.
We hope that over the holiday season, you will put aside any family differences and disputes and enjoy your time together. We hope as you gear up for the New Year you reflect on all the good of 2011 and the fond memories you have had. But we do also hope that you will make 2012 the year you finally say, “I’m glad we did” instead of “I wish we would have.”
Happy Holidays and have a wonderful New Year!
