The Paceline

In a few days I’ll speak to a group of young and old about planting trees. A few days after that I’ll celebrate the end of another of my decades on planet Earth.

Martin Luther said that even if he knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, he would still plant his apple tree. My presentation next week will stress estate planning, even for those without much of an estate.

Passing forward your accumulated assets is important. They can only go three ways – to people you love, nonprofits you value, or Uncle Sam.

You can choose the ways IF you make a plan and write it down. But it may be more important to pass along your values rather than just your valuables.

Visualize your autobiography. Everyone has a story. Everyone has values. When writing the story of your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen. (Wish I’d said that first.)

Write your story. You know it like no one else. Put it where someone can find it – in a will, a book, a blog, a letter in your special shoe box, or leave a gift to your favorite nonprofit. A gift in your will to your favorite charity is a tangible statement on what you value.

What time is it? For me, it’s late third quarter, early fourth quarter. But any of us at any age can get the two-minute warning. Then our decision will be to either run a hurry-up offense or run out the clock.

Tell your story, your lessons learned, your memories cherished, your values held before you get that two-minute warning.

Plant your tree. Join the many who plant trees they know will never produce shade for themselves. 

As Frodo mulled over in The Twin Towers, “Every day that passes is a precious day lost.”