I am back in the Netherlands to attend a funeral.
My brother-in-law was on a cycling holiday in Belgium. He hadn’t been feeling very well, yet overall he seemed healthy to me. He was active, not overweight, happily married for more than 50 years, and he loved his work.
My sister told me that they had just arrived at their accommodation for the night when he suddenly collapsed and passed away. His heart simply stopped beating.
It was over in a flash.
As tragic as it was, it also raised an important question:
Are we prepared?
Not only practically, but emotionally as well.
Here are four questions worth asking ourselves.
Not someday. Not when we retire. Not when life settles down.
Today.
Because none of us knows when our deathbed will arrive.
And there is still time to change the answers.
1. Can my partner access my bank accounts and other important information?
Today, so much of our lives is protected by passwords, PIN numbers, and two-factor authentication.
If something happened to you tomorrow, would your partner know how to access the accounts they need? Would they know where to find important documents? Could they manage online banking, insurance policies, investments, subscriptions, and email accounts?
Having a simple system in place can save a great deal of stress during an already difficult time.
None of us knows when our time is up.
2. Do I have a will, and who is the executor?
I know from personal experience what it is like when someone dies without a will.
When my first husband died, part of the inheritance was placed under government administration for our child. Had different arrangements been made, the money could have been managed far more effectively.
I have also seen families torn apart by disputes over inheritances.
A well-prepared will cannot remove all difficulties, but it can prevent a great deal of confusion, conflict, and heartache.
3. Does my partner have access to money while the estate is being wound up?
Many people underestimate how long it can take to finalise an estate.
It can easily take a year or longer, particularly if there is no will.
Would your partner have enough money available during that period? Would they be able to cover everyday expenses without financial strain?
These are practical conversations worth having while we still can.
4. If I died today, what regrets would I have?
This may be the most important question of all.
If you were lying on your deathbed today, what would you wish you had done differently?
My late husband often spoke about wanting to make a life instead of simply making a living. Sadly, he never had the opportunity to fully do that.
In many ways, I decided to do it for both of us.
Life has taught me that our greatest regrets are often not the things we did, but the things we never did. The conversations we never had. The dreams we never pursued. The forgiveness we never offered. The changes we kept postponing until “someday”.
If this article has made you aware of a dream left unexplored, a relationship that needs attention, a health challenge, or something else you would regret on your deathbed, perhaps now is the time to take the next step.
As a spiritual mindset coach, I work with people who want to create change from the inside out. Together we explore the beliefs, emotions, patterns, and experiences that may be influencing the life you are creating today.
I am currently offering a complimentary exploration session.
Use the button below to book your free session.
Book Your Free Exploration Session
Life can change in a flash.
Let’s make the most of the time we have.
Have fun and take some risks,
Hanna Kok