LEVEL 41


I saw this idea of turning a level rather than an age somewhere on the internet (insert internet credit here!) and I love it! So here I am, about to turn level 41 😊 Reaching this level really has made me reflect on my life, all of the experiences I have had, and how they have led me to where I am today. It is interesting to look back and to think that one different choice or path may have lead to an entirely different life…

Through travel, about 30 moves, living in 2 countries outside of Canada, across much of Canada, countless different types of jobs, all the people I have met along the way, love, intense & painful ongoing grief for the loved ones I have lost, all of life’s ups and downs that are part of being a person, tough decisions and the laughter, it has been a wild ride! Would I make some different decisions? I have concluded that I only would have if I was who I am today, and know what I know now, otherwise, the decisions would likely have been the same, over and over again. This likely rings true for most people. 


I do know that I am grateful to be here, knowing first hand how short, fragile and unfair life can be. Making it this far is lucky and I embrace knowing this every single day I get to wake up and do each day. However, I am heading into this next phase of my life with preparedness. 


What do I mean by this? I have spent a lot of time over the past 8 months getting my affairs and life in order. None of us know what tomorrow will bring, and if I continue to be one of the lucky ones, I might still have a lot of time left in this world. Or maybe not. What I do know for sure, is that when my time is up, I do not want the burden of my “stuff” left for my grieving loved ones to deal with. It is that simple (and complicated!) for me. 


Through my life experiences and my work as a Professional Organizer, I have seen first hand the toll it has taken on people when a loved one dies and they are left with so much stuff to deal with. It really all does fall to the grieving person, and I have decided I do not want that for my people. 


Of course, there will still always be the task of dealing with whatever type of service you wish to have, your belongings, wills and estates etc. You can make this easier for people, and it does require some work from you today, but trust me, it is never too early to start preparing! 


This is a big topic to tackle, but I’ll share with you some of what I have done to prepare for the next phase of my life and to be blunt, for when I do die. What is the saying? The only knowns in life are taxes and death…


  1. I decluttered the heck out of my belongings - I only have what I need and use - I know what I own and why I own it. 
  2. Things are organized and labelled! 
  3. I have a will, wishes for what happens when I die and an executor - they know where all of this information is. 
  4. All of my insurances and investments have up-to-date information and beneficiaries.
  5. My “credit” is insured so that if there is debt when I die, someone won’t be stuck with it. 
  6. My finances are all tracked - this means what my expenses are, how much, where the payment comes from and the details such as how often the payments are etc.
  7. My passwords are in a safe place and all together. 
  8. My taxes are up-to-date. 


I know this can be a taboo topic for many, and I get that, but it is a reality we will all face and what better gift can you leave your loved ones behind? Have the chat with your family and loved ones and I promise it will feel like a weight lifted off of everyones shoulders. Do the work yourself, and encourage others to do the same. 


If you need support and guidance through this, a Professional Organizer can help. They can help you declutter and make an action plan as to how you can start to do the things that need to be done and provide resources. 


Thank you for reading! 

Kristen 

KAS KONCEPTS - Helping you get and stay organized! 

W: https://kaskoncepts.godaddysites.com


Professional Organizers in Canada Directory: https://organizersincanada.com/get-organized/find-an-organizer/




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