Last Will and Testament? God forbid, It's not my portion.....
It's the 2nd time in the last 4 weeks’ I've been drawn to contemplate unexpected death and our attitudes towards it.
First off I came across someone on Social Media commenting that it was pointless to inquest the recent death of a high-profile figure as it would not bring the person back.
And I had this to say - the point of the inquest is not to bring the person back.
It is intended to try and understand the circumstances of death; allow us learn about causes that may have been prevented and strengthen systems such that it never happens again
In this way we bring people who may have been malevolent and criminally negligent to account.
In any society, questioning unnatural death should reveal opportunities for improvement, promoting and protecting individual and public health and wellbeing; and safety and progressing society which alone should make inquests the legally default position in an unnatural or expected death.
And then a bit closer to me - the sudden death of an old colleague has left me and my acquaintances asking: how could such a thing happen?
His death from a (suspected) heart attack was wholly unexpected and amongst many thoughts it has raised has also emphasised the need for health checks that can identify some preventable health conditions or at least, modify risks in others.
And to be honest, you do come to a certain age when things like health conditions, risks and prevention should not be ignored.
Ideally, a mindset of wellness that permits regular check-ups from the decades following our twenties will best serve.
We know that from the age of about 40 years, the occurrence of many diseases increases markedly across all systems of the body.
So, it is important that throughout life and especially as we get older to make healthier lifestyles and choices and thus age in health.
While some of the wider social determinants of health and access to services are structurally and out of individual control, we can take certain actions to reduce health risks.
This may include stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, eating healthily, cutting out salt, regular exercise, etc.
There is yet one other measure that still defies our acceptance especially in African populations.
It is thinking about the risks that our loved ones are exposed to in the circumstance of unexpected death.
It is about writing a ‘will’ that ensures the conveyance of how you would want your loved ones benefit from your assets in a way that you deem fair and does not result in quarrels, disagreements and disputes that may sometimes be destructive.
Agreed, this is a grim task.
It means permitting the mind to open the window of possibilities about a time when one has ceased to exist.
Why even go there? Some people believe even thinking about it opens the door to its occurrence.
But, think about the impact of ill health and death on those around you.
One reason, of course, is to establish the proper disposal of your material belongings in the way that you (who have ostensibly worked to acquire the belongings) approve.
Perhaps some cold comfort for some of us after death.
Significantly though, leaving a will makes provision for vulnerable, dependent relatives who may literally be left deep in the lurch if their main caregiver dies.
No one would, on deep reflection like to subject their loved ones to such an outcome.
But despite these reasons, the whole idea of leaving a will and testament to your last wishes is difficult for some people – and African men (I daresay) are the greatest number in this regard; perhaps because they still hold sole breadwinner roles, or women are simply not sufficiently educated to protect their earnings.
In some parts of Africa, it's taboo to discuss your own death.
Some people believe that mere consideration of the topic may inflict the omen of bad luck or death on the person.
And if you broach the idea, you are wishing the person ill, and to which they reply: "It's not my portion”.
For those unfamiliar, ‘your portion’ as referenced in the Bible, are, those positive outcomes that we all hope and strive for.
For those who equate a discussion about the need to leave a will to ill wishes and attacks on ‘their portion’, I do not understand.
How is ‘your portion’ affected in a discussion about a will?
We know that death is an eventuality and it is about how well we impact people (especially our loved ones) in life and in death.
And we know no one knows when it it will happen.
A will can have such considerable impact.
So while you keep yourself as healthy as you can for as long as you can, take action now to ensure that if death appears, your house is in order. Why not tidy things up for your loved ones?
Why allow problems, disputes and possible exploitation of loved ones after you're gone?
Why not plan forward by keeping your will confidential while you leave in health and put your mind to rest.
By preparing a will, it doesn't mean you believe in God any less. It is not a death sentence either.
Start the process by speaking to a lawyer. Prepare a will and update it accordingly.
Be prepared!
Please write back at me, share your thoughts.
Editing by AskAwayHealth Team Disclaimer All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence based guidance and to help promote quality health care. The advice in our material is not meant to replace management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner. To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through info@askawayhealth.org
