Elephant in the Room By Kathleen M. Rehl

We all know we’ll meet our end

But with silence we pretend

That’s not our fate, won’t happen to us

We push it aside with little fuss.

Tiptoeing around the pachyderm

To skirt the end-of-life alarm

Wills, trusts, and directives

Decisions wise but often postponed

Yet, the elephant looms large and tall

Its presence felt by one and all

We hope she’ll pass on by

But death comes, we can’t deny.

Some wait till their final breath

Leaving loved ones to face death

Without a will or care directive

The aftermath can be quite hectic.

It’s time to confront the elephant

To plan for the inevitable event

Making decisions that ease the pain

And help loved ones who remain.

Estate planning’s more than legal docs

It’s your stories, experiences, and hopes

Legacy writing’s a gift you can share

That lasts beyond and shows you care.

Our legacy is more than money and things

It’s values we hold and memories we bring

Lessons we teach and dreams we share

The mark we leave on the world with care.

Don’t cause heartache, stress, and strife

Or a financial mess afterlife

Take control of what you can

And give loved ones a sound plan.

Before life’s final curtain falls

Embrace this checklist, heed its calls

Effective planning is a must

To grant loved ones peace, security, and trust.

Kathleen M. Rehl, Ph.D., CFP®, CeFT® wrote the award-winning book, Moving Forward on Your Own: A Financial Guidebook for Widows. She owned Rehl Financial Advisors for 18 years, followed by an encore career empowering widows. Now “reFired,” Rehl writes legacy stories and assists nonprofits. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Kiplinger’s, CNBC, and more. She’s an adjunct faculty at The American College of Financial Services. As a zesty Boomer practicing positive aging, she gratefully continues to create and contribute . . . happily using her skills and experiences to encourage others to live their best lives. Her website is www.KathleenRehl.com.