28/12/2023
Plan Ahead to Live Your Best Life 🌟
Only 4 days left of 2023. The thing I wanted to highlight today that is important for me in 2024 is the importance of planning ahead. Some people feel planning ahead stifles spontaneity, but for me it’s planning which gives us the confidence to be spontaneous and grasp opportunities when they arise. It’s also about having some tough, but important discussions with our loved ones sooner rather than later, to be confident everybody is aware of one another's wishes and has the confidence to live their best lives. 💪❤️
I realise my approach is probably more upfront than a lot of people, but that is the way I was brought up. Approaching life this way made it easier for my family to know what to do when we had to make some difficult life decisions. It also allowed us to plan some fabulous family adventures and have a better idea of how and when to give one another the support we wanted. 🌍👨👩👧👦
Indeed, the dementia advocate, Wendy Mitchell looks at this topic in her third book, 'One Last Thing'. I know people find this topic difficult, but like her, I think it's an important thing to discuss, so it takes the pressure off our loved ones when those difficult times arise. It can reduce worry and allow people to make the most of our time together. 💬📚
My husband and I have just received our finalised health and financial powers of attorney and we are starting some of these challenging discussions with our kids. They were really uncomfortable to begin with, but, as we started to think about the decisions we might have to make, they were relieved that we had the opportunity to discuss them together. They now feel more confident about making some of those tough decisions, knowing our views, along with an understanding of why. 📃👨👩👧👦
Our discussions haven’t been all gloom and doom as it made us start to make plans for some great adventures we want to do together, and highlighted some opportunities we can create together for one another. 🌄✈️.
So, why not have a think about things that are important to you, what makes you, you, and how you want to live your life in the best way you can, and then do everything you can in 2024 to plan and make them happen. 💪🌈
If this all seems a bit daunting then consider using something like the framework in My Future Care Matters. 👉 https://myfuturecare.org/ 👈
So, in 2024 as I reach 60, I am going to be asking myself those important questions and discussing and planning them with my loved ones. I may not achieve everything I set out to do, and I am sure there will be some curved balls that come my way, but planning and discussing should empower myself and my family to live our best lives with no regrets.💪❤️🌏
My Future Care Handbook, 3rd edition (Sept 23) Interactive workbook with the information and forms you need to help you plan your later life. Over 70 A4 pages packed with information in order to make, record and share decisions about your future. A one-stop shop for all things related to later life....
