Life Never Goes According to Plan…So Plan For When it Doesn’t
I learned the importance of life insurance the hard way when my dad unexpectedly passed away two years ago. One minute we were laughing over brunch about my attempts at online dating, and the next I was getting a call that he had suffered a major heart attack. Even though my family struggled at times when I was young, to me my dad was Superman – strong, vibrant, flashing his million dollar smile. I never imagined life without him by my side.
But as we all eventually come to realize, life often throws us curveballs when we least expect it. After initially reeling from the shock and grief of his passing, between uncontrollable fits of tears at the funeral home while sifting through casket choices, my survival instincts kicked in and I started wondering how we would pay for everything. My dad was the primary breadwinner, leaving my mom with barely enough from his life insurance to cover final expenses.
Over the next excruciating months of settling his affairs, I slowly watched my mother’s optimism and joy get stripped away as bill collectors came knocking. She was forced to sell their home and move into a tiny apartment, getting by each month on social security checks and the goodwill of family. My heart broke watching her slowly realize all of their dreams for retirement together had vanished in one tragic instant.
Don’t Follow in My Footsteps…Get Life Insurance After walking alongside my mom on her unexpected financial struggle, I resolved to break the cycle for my own family one day. I started putting aside money each month for a term life insurance policy big enough to pay off my mortgage, cover childcare and living expenses for my future kids if something happened to me or my partner, and allow us to maintain our lifestyle without descending into debt.
When I proudly told my mom I had life insurance over dinner one night, she broke down crying – tears of relief knowing I would have financial security in my time of need. In that moment I saw the heavy burden she had been carrying start to lift from her eyes. I realized not having proper coverage was one of her biggest regrets.
Life Can Change in an Instant – Don’t Leave Your Family Vulnerable Here’s the simple truth: any of us can die unexpectedly at any age, leaving our families extremely vulnerable if we haven’t prepared. I constantlypictures my future babies growing up without their mother because I failed to plan.
I may get hit by a car crossing the road while yelling at my husband over text about forgetting to buy diapers again (guilty!). He may get news of an aggressive cancer with only months to live. The possibilities are endless really, and I’ve imagined them all at this point.
While death is inevitable, anyone who depends on your income doesn’t have to suffer financially in your absence. My hope in sharing my story openly is that you’ll learn from my hard lessons and spare your own loved ones that pain. Securing life insurance is truly one of the most caring things we can do for each other.
The Gift of Peace of Mind After seeing my mom struggle, I realized funeral costs alone these days can run anywhere from $7,000 to $12,000 on average. Factor in outstanding debts like credit cards or medical bills, mortgage payments and household expenses, and children’s future education…the costs stack up exponentially.
Giving my family the gift of financial security when I’m gone allows me peace of mind now knowing their dreams won’t suddenly collapse. They can grieve my loss without drowning in bills, bankruptcies, and the very ugly financial realities that come after death. I like picturing them gathered round my gravestone reminiscing joyfully about my most embarrassing and triumphant moments instead of fighting over money.
While no one likes pondering their own demise, life insurance gives me hope – a silver lining knowing my short time on this earth still leaves a lasting impact. It allows me to laugh more freely with the people I love today, gently nudging away that shadow of “what if” hovering in the corners of tomorrow. I don’t have to play defense anymore bracing for life’s sucker punches if the worst should happen.
I can simply enjoy each moment as a gift right now. Isn’t that what we all strive for? To live meaningfully without constant fear getting in the way of what matters – smiles across the dinner table, warm hugs before bedtime, memories filling all the rooms of a home overflowing with love.