In 1789 Benjamin Franklin made the statement, “…the only two certainties in life are death and taxes.” Now two centuries later we make provisions for the tax situation, but we fail to prepare for the inevitable situation of death. How strange in a society of preparedness and a generation of organization! We bequeath the burden of our estate to our heirs. What an inheritance!
Perhaps your method of bookkeeping and special requests lies gathering dust in the cardboard box near your desk. This manner of organization is quite simple: Just throw the important documents in and look at them later. Or better yet, leave them for your family to sort through after you are gone. This system does not defy logic, but your thoughts and papers are not protected from fire, mold, and dust.
With the death of many loved ones, I have learned about funeral arrangements, wills and bills, probates, lawyers, and lawsuits. Having graduated from the traumatic school of life lessons, I am now organizing the affairs of my own estate so that my loved ones will have peace of mind with my homegoing.
In this effort, Before I Croak (BIC) was created. BIC is a secure, encrypted, digital lockbox where your important documents and final wishes can be stored. With the help of creative minds and technical gurus with endless energy, BIC Version 1.0 was released on November 5, 2023. For further information, please visit our website at www.beforeicroak.io and watch the tutorial videos for a quick peek of the app features.
I firmly believe that being ready to die definitely involves the spiritual readiness of one’s soul, but it also involves the practical provisions that must be made. Do you have a will? If so, where is it? Have you appointed a Medical Proxy and signed a Medical Directive? Where are the titles to your vehicles? Can you locate the deed and/or abstract to your home? Do your family members know of your financial situation and where your bank is? Where is the lockbox key? These questions are just a few that you can answer and act upon now. Your answers to all these questions and more can be stored in Before I Croak.
My personal subscription to Before I Croak has inspired me to locate, organize, and store the important documents in my life. I have planned my funeral and have even written and downloaded my obituary (without the dates, of course!) I have listed who gets my grandmother’s opal engagement ring and my collection of Christopher Radko ornaments. These are just things, but I want to give them to the individuals of my choice. By preparing now for the inevitability of death, I propose to “look death in the eye and laugh” before I croak!
Diane Stedje Battles is a retired high school Spanish teacher and the author/creator of Before I Croak. Her greatest blessings in life include her husband, her two children, and her five grandchildren. Diane loves to travel, garden, and decorate. Her numerous cruises and trips are recorded in their respective scrapbooks, and she has recently created a two-volume scrapbook of her thirty-four years of teaching. She also makes a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies!
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