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Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NewsUSA) - When I was married to my husband, author William Goyen, I was like many women of my day and never got involved in the financial planning of our lives. I just embraced life each day and didn't worry about the future.
Then William died of leukemia in 1983. It took me a long time to get my life back in order, but I finally began to think about life and what I wanted out of it. I learned that while mourning is a natural process, there comes a time when you have to put down the coffee cup and go live life.
I wanted to help honor other widows who also found ways to put down their coffee cups, so I teamed up with State Farm for the third Embrace Life Awards. Their stories - and my own - remind us that proper financial planning is crucial to protecting our hopes and dreams for today and tomorrow. What we all have in common are life lessons that I hope will inspire others.
Embracing Life Today
* Get your financial house in order. Ask yourself how tidy and organized your financial house is. Do you know what you have - or don't - in the way of investments, savings and insurance?
* Get your family talking about financial planning. Take time to talk with your family about your dreams and the "what ifs" you fear, and decide how to achieve the good and handle the bad.
* Develop a plan and revisit it often. Take a financial inventory to check if your dreams are covered and update your plan regularly. You need at least three things: 1) savings and investments; 2) legal documents, including wills and powers of attorney; and 3) insurance for life and property.
* Find a trusted financial source. State Farm agents can help you determine how best to protect your family, set goals for your future and prepare to meet the inevitable challenges of life.
Embracing Life After Tragedy
* Give yourself time to grieve ... but find reasons to get out of bed. Just getting through the immediate weeks and months after losing a loved one can be unbearable. But you also should find ways to begin living life again. Focus on taking small steps each day.
* Allow friends and family to support you. Surround yourself with people who can help you through difficult circumstances. Turning to friends and family for support shows your strength, not weakness.
* Get involved in your community. You might think you're completely tapped out, but giving to others can be very therapeutic. Think about reading to children or volunteering at a local pet rescue as ways to give back.
* Honor your loved one. Whether it's starting a scholarship or just sharing stories with your children, finding ways to remember your loved one will help you move past the tragedy that took place and think about the better times.
For more information about the State Farm Embrace Life Awards and this year's honorees, visit the News and Events Center at www.statefarm.com.
Doris Roberts is a multiple Emmy-winning actress who is best known as Marie Barone, the strong-willed mother of the title character in the CBS sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond."
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