Having all of your ducks in a row is crucial. No matter what stage of life you may be in, it is always a good idea to think about how your affairs will be handled. For instance, passwords are one of the frustrations of modern life. Technology is such an ingrained part of our lives that no one makes it throughout their day without logging on, signing in, updating, posting or doing something else that involves an internet connection. Honestly, a few years ago I was using the same password for a few different sites but what if you have numerous accounts? It can get real tricky.
Passwords Are Important
Since surviving a motor vehicle crash, I have had my fair share of forgetting passwords and even misplacing passwords. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have been locked out of one of my accounts and it can be extremely frustrating to say the least. I have since had to write all my passwords down which are now stored under lock & key in a safe place because as a creator of an online support group and a blogger who also manages a website and a quarterly newsletter, it is so important to keep track of all of your passwords. Not only does that leave me with easy access to my passwords in case I forget them, but it is also allows a designated individual to take over if need be.
I am fortunate to have a background in law and I have had my Will & Powers of Attorney prepared since I was in my 20’s. Of course it has been updated with changes or additions over the years but I have always made sure all of my ducks were in a row. This past December, Roy Hwang, a partner at Epstein & Associates was featured in our Winter Issue of Sharing Our Recovery explaining the The Importance of Wills and Powers of Attorney where he stated “Nobody knows when an automobile accident will occur, and what effect this could have on a person’s health and their family’s well-being.”
Planning Ahead is Necessary
You may ask yourself “Well what do I have to plan?” And the answer is everything! It’s not just about having a Will & Powers of Attorney, you also need to consider sharing your passwords and planning for the future. Along with online banking, investments and shopping accounts, many people also have social media accounts that need handling upon the death of the owner. Facebook, for instance, has a special section in which you can select someone to take over your personal account upon your passing, but at the same time, you should also be thinking about what you would like to happen with your online community that you may have created which could include a support group, a website, a blog and any other online activities in which you participate.
Once you have your ducks in a row, be prepared to spend some time and effort gathering your important information and documents. Always keep in mind that you would not want to have to do this job in a crisis. Last year, I found myself unexpectedly admitted to the hospital. Within minutes, all I could think about was the Crash Support Network Group that was created specifically for survivors of motor vehicle crashes. I am not only a crash survivor but I am also the administrator of this group and I found myself wondering who would reach out to them as these members heavily rely on much needed support.
Give Yourself Peace of Mind
Over the last few years, I have met some wonderful online communities that I have the utmost respect for. Some of these online communities have hundreds if not thousands of members and followers. If you are a creator of an online support community, it’s critical that these groups do not suddenly come to a screeching halt if something were to happen to the administrator of the group. Once your affairs are in order and your wishes have been outlined, store all of your important papers and legal documents in one file. If you keep your original documents in a safety deposit box, keep a copy of the file at home and review this paperwork once a year to make changes and add additional information especially if you have changed passwords.
An essential piece of getting all of your ducks in a row is letting a trusted family member or friend know where your important paperwork is kept in case of an emergency. A little forethought now about how you would like things to go once you are incapacitated or gone can give you great peace of mind, as well it can spare your loved ones a lot of hassle.
For better or worse, we are going to be using passwords to protect our online accounts for the foreseeable future and I am fully prepared. Preparing for the future requires exactly that, preparation. Anyone who leaves their destiny to chance, or in the hands of others, is destined to achieve far less than they could have if they had been prepared to get their affairs in order now so your online presence can be lead it into the future.
I am pleased to share with you that I have all my ducks in a row… how about you?
S. Dawne McKay is a survivor of a horrific crash that changed her life forever. Dawne shares her personal journey as a Crash Survivor Blogger and also collaborates with crash survivors as Guest Bloggers allowing them an opportunity to share their stories. Dawne is also the author of the book, “Talk Crash to Me – What to Expect After Surviving a Collision and How to Manage Your Recovery” which is available for purchase on Amazon.
