I am one week into a two-week vacation. Instead of daydreams and carefree moods, I feel anxious, tired, and unsettled. I have worked diligently for the last two months to take two weeks to disengage and recharge. Vacation should be all I ever wanted it to be.

If you are asked if you have a Last Will and Testament, what do you say? A proud and resounding yes or a reason you don’t have one or don’t need one. A Last Will and Testament is to provide gifts and instructions for your loved ones. I hear people say “I don’t care what they do.” or “They will work it all out.” These care-free, everything will be fine feelings about the distribution of your personal and financial assets provide you peace of mind, but those who survive you, have much more difficult feelings.

Your family wants to know your desires.  When you leave a note for your next of kin, it helps them fulfill your legacy.  A legacy cannot survive family members fighting over the property of a loved one.  A last will and testament will give peace to those who carry on after you're gone.  They will remember the happy times and important memories, your true legacy.  

We have reached the middle of the calendar year. The first half of 2020 is in the review mirror. This has been a banner year to set the stage for your brain and body to feel every emotion; the good, the bad and the ugly. I have had surges of joy and have been fraught with despair.

Life is full of change right now. Faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, people are re-evaluating both their personal and professional lives on an unprecedented scale. And every field and industry is responding in unique and innovative ways. That’s true of attorneys, too.

Should you write your own will or consult an attorney? Here’s the low-down on the requirements for a valid will in the state of Iowa, what complications you need to consider, and what value an attorney can provide.

Iowa is a Remote Online Notary state. There are many legal documents that require a notary public signature. To name a few: real estate deeds, mortgage contracts, last will and testament and powers of attorney. Until recently, a notary public had to be in the same room as the signer for the document to be legally notarized.

We just rounded the corner on a decade of this millennia. Time is going too fast for me. The older I get, the harder it is to keep up. After reflecting on a few things from the past decade, it isn’t a surprise that it is hard to hold on during the roller coaster of life. Things that existed in 2010 are now obsolete or replaced with something newer, faster and shinier.

The school year is here! How in the world did that happen? Every summer seems to go faster than the one before it.

If you have a dog in training, one of the first things a teacher will tell you is to establish yourself as the alpha dog or the pack leader. The alpha dog is the top dog and the one who sets the rules for the pack that all other dogs follow. The alpha dog gets to eat first and gets the best sleeping spot. Speaking of sleeping, the alpha dog sleeps higher than dogs lower in the pack. From a certain vantage point, they are on a pedestal.

In a world where we have instant access to people, on-demand access to food delivery, and virtual assistance we aren’t happy. Stop throughout the day and ask yourself, am I happy? What more do I need to be happy? What am I doing today to lead to happiness?

The schools in my area are on spring break this week. I am working and, starting tonight, watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. When spring break begins, I feel a sense of relief and success. One reason is that I’ve made it two-thirds of the way through my son’s school year. Another reason is when there is a school break or a holiday, people are less anxious about their legal issues. I receive less e-mail and fewer phone calls which allows my day to feel more fluid and less disjointed.

This blog post was knocking around in my head through the holiday season and resurfaced in the new year. During Christmas, there were many times I felt inadequate. How many gifts is enough? How many holiday gatherings is enough? Should I do more? Can I do more? Worry about all of these questions causes me to miss out on the joy that comes with gatherings and gifts. To abate the guilt, I wait until the 2 weeks (even 2 days) before Christmas to buy gifts so I don’t struggle with whether I am doing enough. And I participate in every gathering.

What is holding you back from taking time for yourself? This time of year, preparation for the holidays can be the reason you don’t do things you enjoy. In all honesty, isn’t it like this all year long? A list of tasks and goals to be achieved for someone other than yourself. I’m not saying that you don’t benefit as well. There is usually a sense of satisfaction when you do something for someonse else and there is often a mutual benefit.

This is the time of year when decisions for healthy behavior is at extremes. At one end, I could be intentional about my health choices and reap the benefits. At the other end, I could ignore all sign pointing to healthy behavior and repeatedly hit snooze because it is cold and no one will notice.

People want your attention. Take a moment and look at your surroundings. If you are outside, there are billboards, vehicle graphics, political yard signs, and sale signs. If you are inside, there are magazine covers, flyers, and reminders. If you are online, there are digital ads, newsletters, mass e-mails, and pop-ups.

When you read the word "hurt" you immediately think of a situation in your life. In my practice, I watch people hurt. In some situations, hurt is part of the process. I relate "hurt" as a physical feeling to the emotion of grief. I also relate "hurt" as an emotional feeling that can be a response to what someone else said, did, or didn't do.

From the moment you wake up, you are making decisions. Thousands of micro-decisions are made everyday. You are either taking action on a decision or processing whether or not to act. There are likely several decisions ping-ponging around your brain at any given time. It is exhausting.

The word "probate" is confusing. And, quite honestly, doesn't sound pretty being said or heard out loud. If I could use a different word, I would. I don't like things to be confusing or intimidating for a person. But unfortunately it is the word we are stuck with. It originated in England so thank your friends across the pond.