This is the third article in our series about The Wiser Way – a methodology to manage all of the “What ifs” that go along with aging.
A Fable: The Sharing Sparrow
In a garden, there lived a sparrow who kept her secrets to herself. Throughout her life she had collected a lot of important information, but she was the only one who knew where it was stored.
As she aged, the sparrow began to gather and organize all of the secrets that she had accumulated, just like she had gathered and stored the seeds and nuts collected for each winter, making sure it was easily accessible for her trusted circle of family and friends.
Over time, as the sparrow slowly shared more and more of her previously secretive information, the sparrow’s family became known for its strong bonds and trust. They were admired for their willingness to share and listen, which allowed them to better understand and watch out for each other.
One day, when the sparrow faced a problem that she couldn’t solve on her own, her family was ready to act as they already knew where to find all the important information that the sparrow had accumulated. They rallied around her, providing support, comfort, and solutions.
The sharing sparrow realized that by being open and honest about her life and sharing her knowledge and information with loved ones, she had given her family the tools to help in times of need.
Moral of the story: Sharing important information with loved ones can create a strong and trusting network of friends and family who will be there for you when we need them most. Sharing is a two-way street—what you give is what you get.
Sharing – What Does It Mean?
On the journey towards managing all of the “what ifs” that go along with getting older, sharing vital information is key to aging gracefully as our family and friends will need access if they are meant to help.
This is why sharing is one of the tenets of The Wiser Way.
As we grow older, it’s easy to become isolated and feel like we’re navigating life alone. But the truth is, we are fundamentally interconnected, and our well-being is tied to the well-being of those around us.
Our personal information, when shared with our loved ones, can help them understand our needs and provide the support we need to age gracefully.
By sharing information about our health, finances, and personal preferences with our family members, we create a safety net of support that can help us navigate the challenges of aging.
Whether it’s coordinating medical care or making important financial decisions, having a strong support system can make all the difference.
So, we encourage you to think about the ways in which you can lean into the power of interconnectedness and share information with your loved ones. It may not always be easy, in fact, it can often be down right awkward, but it’s well worth it in the long run.
Invest Today to Protect Tomorrow
Whatever your personal situation may be, we all have pieces of information that could help others help you when the time comes. Some of this might be simple—copies of a drivers license or insurance card. Some might be more complex—estate plans or a will. And some may feel a bit more awkward—bank accounts or medical records.
But all said and done, if you aren’t sharing access to this information with the appropriate people in the appropriate way, if life changes on a dime, as it often does, how will your loved ones be able to help you?
There are, of course, plenty of tools that can be used to share information in a digital format, but we’ve built WayWiser to make it all a bit easier for you and your family to prepare for and manage the future all in one safe and secure place.
