Carrie Fisher’s Final Lesson

One important lesson celebrities teach us when they die unexpectedly is that we are all mortal and we never know when our number is up. Read about six celebrities who died in 2016 and it will change your life. 1. Carrie Fisher Carrie Fisher, famous for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, died after suffering a heart attack while flying from London to LA. When she boarded the plane, she had no idea she would never stand on the ground again. Days later, a headline read, “What Killed Carrie Fisher?” Could you imagine your name in that headline? Write Your Own Eulogy This exercise will help you consider how you want to be remembered. Do you want people to remember you for your love of sports, your dedication to your job, your charitable giving, your community service, etc.? After you write and read your own eulogy, reflect as to whether you are living up to everything you wrote. If not, you now have the opportunity to become how you want to be remembered. 2. Tommy Ford Actor Tommy Ford’s unexpected death shocked everybody. The actor, known for his role in the 90s sitcom, Martin, had his knee replaced and soon-after suffered a ruptured aneurysm in his abdomen. He went to the hospital and died three days later. He was 52. Write A Will If you want to control where your money and possessions go when you go, you need to complete the legal document known as a “will” or “intestate.” If you leave without leaving behind a will, your government will determine who inherits everything you leave behind. That means Bob in government accounting might give the car you love to the nephew you hate. 3. George Michael When singer, George Michael, went to sleep on Christmas, there was no way he knew he would not wake up. He apparently suffered heart failure while asleep. He was 53 years old. Write Your Will Now Death, especially our own, is not something most of us like to contemplate much less plan for. However, by not completing your final will, you could leave behind trouble. Your loving children might become vicious toward each other to claim their undetermined inheritance from your estate. Or your money might simply wind up in the wrong hands. 4. Ricky Harris Ricky Harris was famous for his various roles on the big screen and on TV. On December 26, the 54 year-old actor died after his second heart attack in as many years. Nobody saw it coming. Create A Bucket List Taken from the idiom for death, kicking the bucket, this list comprises all the things you would like to do and places you would like to see before you inevitably knock over the pail with your foot. This list achieves two purposes: it helps remind you of your mortality and it provides a preliminary plan to live the life you desire. 5. Alan Thicke 69 year-old Growing Pains star, Alan Thicke, was playing hockey with his 19 year-old son when he collapsed. Three hours later he was dead because of a ruptured aorta, even after giving his family the “thumbs up” as paramedics took him to the ambulance. There were warning signs, but they did not appear serious at the time. Get Life Insurance Taking out a life insurance policy has several benefits. First and foremost, if you are the breadwinner in the family, it will insure that you provide for your family beyond your departure. That’s important, especially if you have children. It will also give you peace of mind. Second, the funds can cover your final expenses which can be quite costly. Finally, a policy can guarantee that foundations or charities you support continue to receive your support. 6. Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie gained her fame on The Voice and on You Tube. She was simply signing autographs outside a hotel in Florida when a deranged fan opened fire on her. She was 22. Write A Living Will Do you want to be put on life support near what could be your end? Do you want to donate your organs to others or to science? A living will outlines your desires about medical treatment in the event you are no longer able to communicate or express informed consent. Without this document, your loved ones will be forced to guess your desires and make very hard decisions that could result in intra-family conflicts as well as guilt, remorse and anger. 7. Emilio Navaira Tejano singing star and Grammy Award winner, Emilio Navaira, had a heart attack on May 16 when he was home alone. Family members found him unconscious but breathing, but it was too late. Fans were shocked at his unexpected passing at age 53. Say The Four Most Important Things Dr. Ira Byock is a palliative care physician. He is with people at the end of their lives, and he noticed a pattern. In his book, The Four Things That Matter Most, Byock spells out the four most common statements people make when their time, or their loved one’s time, is coming to an end. He encourages readers to say these powerful, meaningful, relationship- and life-changing statements now: Please forgive me. I forgive you. Thank you. I love you.