Organizing Your Life and Legacy with Elizabeth Reynolds Turnage

“A silver wave is coming,” says author and speaker Elizabeth Turnage. Baby boomers are facing the hardest challenge of their lives – how to die well. In this conversation with Sharon Betters, Elizabeth challenges listeners to take steps now to make it easier for loved ones after you die. Elizabeth shares how her dad died without any intentional preparation of affairs or instructions for his children. She compares his response to death, to her mother’s and how she prepared a folder of important papers and instructions with a list of 5 steps to immediately take upon her death. Elizabeth describes how her mother’s intentional preparation was such a gift to her as she grieved her mother’s sudden death. Elizabeth acknowledges the grief we experience as we begin this process. She encourages us to imagine the relief of our children, who, in the middle of their own grief, know how to honor us in our death. She admits there is grief when we are preparing others for when we are not here, practical ideas for sorting through precious belongings, how to distribute them when our children are not interested, and giving the gift of “all expenses paid” funeral plans. Along with, how to deal with the distribution of your estate when you are reluctant to give to a child who does not share your values. Elizabeth is so passionate about helping us intentionally prepare for this last step of life, that she offers a course called Organizing Your Life and Legacy.