A neighbor’s heat stopped working yesterday. It had been raining since Friday and she arrived home from some errands to a cold house. She’s older, so she asked me to go down the steep basement steps to see what was going on. There was floating going on – lawn chairs, coolers, papers. And a furnace with about 6 inches of water at the base.
As I went back up and told her the news – she’d need to call someone to set up the sump pumps and then call the oil company to get the furnace back up and running after the water was cleared, and she’d probably not have heat until the next day – she shook her head. “I was afraid this would happen,” she said.
It made me wonder, well, if you were afraid it would happen, why didn’t you make sure the sump-pump was set up on Friday when the 4 days of heavy rain were forecast? Why didn’t you call me to check on them earlier? Why didn’t you do something other than just be afraid it would happen? Fear doesn’t keep the basement dry, action does.
What are you afraid might happen? That something might happen to you and there would be no one named to take care of your children? That you might get sick and no one would know what you wishes about medical care are? That you might not have enough money to pay your bills next month? That the rattling noise in your car might be something serious? That the nagging cough might be something more than just the remains of a cold?
Are you taking any action on these issues? Even a baby step like looking at your budget or creating one. Or writing down your wishes for end of life care, even if you aren’t quite sure yet who you’d want to appoint to make those decisions for you. Maybe making a list of all the possible guardians for your children, and narrowing it down later. Or calling your doctor. Or your mechanic.
Fear won’t keep the basement dry. It won’t protect you, or your children or your car or your bank account or your health. Only you can do that by taking some action, no matter how small, today.
Great article! Great topic! So many folks are afraid to approach those important life issues. I definitely will suggest that my family read it.
Great story Leanna! I always give people the old adage of “penny-wise and pound-foolish” If they spend a little money on ways to prevent problems, they won’t have to spend a lot of money on the problem later on. The flooded basement is a great example. Ed.