You Can Ditch Old Issues in the New Year

Jan 3, 2017 | 0 comments

Crystal Ball and Sands of TimeWelcome to 2017! Perhaps you made some goals or resolutions for the New Year. What’s the difference between goals and resolutions?

You may resolve to lose weight, make or save more money, or simply enjoy your life more. But how do you measure your progress?

My fellow Toastmaster TK O’Geary just did a speech in our Albuquerque Challenge Toastmasters Club on how setting goals is more effective than making resolutions. Goals are:

  • Specific. It clearly states what must happen.
  • Measurable. Results can be easily validated.
  • Action-oriented. It begins with the word “to,” followed by a verb.
  • Realistic. It is challenging, yet practical and achievable – not too high or low.
  • Time-bounded. It contains a timetable for achievement.

So, how about dropping old end-of-life issues you’re dragging around from last year? You can make specific, measurable, action-oriented, time-bounded goals to:

  • Clear your clutter in a specific area of your home spending 15 minutes a day.
  • Update or make a will or trust, naming executor(s) and beneficiaries.
  • Name a financial Power of Attorney who can handle transactions for you if you can’t.
  • Write out your advance medical directives and name a medical Power of Attorney.
  • Make your funeral plans and gather the needed information to keep on file.

Trust me, it won’t kill you. Really. And talk your family. Everyone will benefit from your preparation and communication. Wishing you all the best for a great 2017!

Links to recent posts at The Family Plot Blog, upcoming events and a funny quote follow. Please call 505.265.7215 if I can be of assistance!

Gail Rubin, The Doyenne of Death®

The Family Plot Blog Highlights

Click on the titles to read the blog post and see the associated videos. Review all posts on The Family Plot Blog or view just the Death Cartoons posted on the blog!

Jaguar hearse in cemetery[Video] How to Create an Iconic Jaguar Hearse  In this video interview, illustrated with selected clips from the film Harold and Maude, Ken Roberts reveals how he recreated an automotive icon.

What to Know About Four Remarkable Religions’ Funeral Traditions  Listen to these four separate podcasts on A Good Goodbye Radio for in-depth insights on Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Greek Orthodox funeral traditions.

Five Ways to Save Money on Death Care Costs  I wrote this blog post for the popular women’s website Sixty and Me.

How to Make Pet Loss Easier to Bear  These three A Good Goodbye Radio podcasts on pet loss issues provide answers.

Seven Funeral Trends to Watch in 2017  Tips from my article which first appeared in Mortuary Management magazine.

Upcoming Events and a Funny Quote

See the Calendar page for a full listing of events.

Gail Rubin, CT

Gail Rubin, CT, pioneering death educator

Tuesday, January 10, 2017 — Gail speaks to the Coronado Thunderbirds, retirees from Sandia Laboratories, on “Downsizing and Organizing Before You Die.” This event is only open to members of the group.

Friday, January 20, 2017, 2:00 p.m. — KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die talk at Alegria Community, 901 Cottonwood Circle, Bernalillo, NM.

Saturday, January 21, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. — Albuquerque Death Cafe at Gail Rubin’s home. RSVP for address or join the Meetup Group.

Thursday, February 2, noon to 1:15 p.m. — Gail speaks at Dr. Kris Roush’s Death and Dying class at Central New Mexico Community College, Main Campus, Albuquerque, NM.

Friday, February 10, 2017, 1:00 p.m. — “Laughing and Learning: An End-of-Life Workshop” at the University of New Mexico, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Albuquerque, NM. Fee: $20. Register online for class 79681.

March 10-12, 2017Frozen Dead Guy Days in Nederland, Colorado, featuring The Newly-Dead Game and continuous showings of the documentary, “Grandpa’s in the TUFF Shed.”

Saturday, March 18 — Gail Rubin keynotes the Cancer Support Now conference in Albuquerque, NM. Her talk is titled, “A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Don’t Plan to Die.”

“If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call ‘failure’ is not the falling down, but the staying down.” — Mary Pickford

A Good Goodbye