In this article, I want to get a little personal. I want to share a story of what recently happened to me – that’s right, yours truly – and how it all ties in to dealing with the unexpected.

A few weeks ago, I was scheduled to meet with a client to conduct a signing ceremony for her estate planning documents. I had reviewed all of the documents the night before and they were printed and ready to go. So, when I woke up that morning, I was feeling confident that everything would go smoothly. I got in my car and started making my way from my home office to the main law office where the ceremony was set to occur. However, just fifteen minutes into my drive, I started having car trouble. But it wasn’t just minor car trouble. I was actually forced off of the road because, if I didn’t pull over immediately, my engine would have overheated and who knows what else! At that point, I only had two options. I could either go into a state of panic and enter a downward spiral, or I could make a plan to succeed.

In that critical moment, I made the right choice. I chose to pivot and make a plan to accomplish everything that I wanted to do that day – mainly, the meeting with my client. So, I began to troubleshoot. First, I called my husband, he met me on the side of the road, and we switched cars. Next, I called the client to advise that I was going to be a few minutes behind. As the line was trilling, I felt my mind beginning to race again. What if the client is angry? What if she no longer wants to go through with the ceremony? What if my entire world falls apart? Of course, that couldn’t have been further from reality. The client was very understanding, and told me to just get there when I could, safely.

As it turns out, I was only a few minutes behind schedule. And, guess what? The world did not come crashing down on me, contrary to the tricks that my mind was trying to play. I made it to the appointment, I conducted the ceremony, and the client was extremely happy with everything that I had prepared. So, in conclusion, what could have ended up as an afternoon full of chaos completely changed all because of the way I chose to approach the issue.

So, my question for you is, how are you going to deal with the unexpected? Are you going to panic, or are you going to adapt and plan to succeed?
As an estate planning attorney, I help people plan for the unexpected every day, and I’m happy to say that I practice what I preach every single time. I choose to confront the issues and the things that will happen to all of us at some point in our lives, and I want you to do the same. I want to see us all succeed.

While I may not be able to help you with unexpected car trouble, I can help you plan for the major life events that we all will encounter. If you do not have an estate plan in place, I want you to contact the Law Offices of Elsa W. Smith today to schedule a consultation. Let me help you deal with the unexpected before it happens and give you peace of mind in the process.

Information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and not intended to constitute legal advice. Please consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for help with your specific situation.