ANNUAL INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE
By Sue Ronnenkamp

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Whether it’s January 1st or the day after another birthday, I think it’s important to take an annual inventory and to reassess our lives on a regular basis. Whether you’re at midlife like I am, or in the late fall or winter of life, taking stock at least once a year and planning ahead for the future is worth doing. Why? Because there is one thing constant in this world and that is change. Not only will changes continue to come into our lives as we age – we will also continue to change. What should be included in this inventory? Here are some ideas to get you started.

1. Do an assessment of your personal belongings.
   Review all of your belongings – including the items in your kitchen cabinet, and the clothes in your closet. Ask yourself if each of your things still has a useful purpose in your life. If not, think about passing the item on to someone who can use it. My rule of thumb with clothing and other things taking up storage space: if I haven’t used or worn it in the past two years, it’s time to let it go. Items with high sentimental value are exempt from this rule as long as you don’t include everything in this category. Releasing “stuff” from your life can have amazing results. Try it, you’ll like it!
   
   
2. Assess everything else that is currently a part of your life.
   Take a look at your living situation, the way you are spending your time, your relationships, and anything else that is currently part of your life. See if there are things you are holding on to for the wrong reasons. When something comes to mind, ask yourself if this item, or experience, or relationship is holding you back from living your life fully and completely. If you didn’t have to care for it, or pay for it, or carry it around, or service it, or spend time doing it, would you have more freedom and time to do and be what you really want right now? If you find anything that is keeping you from being joyful and free, think seriously about releasing it. Remember, just because something once met your needs, or served you well, doesn’t mean it has to be a part of your life forever.
   
   Since my last move, I have had several opportunities to let go of additional belongings that I discovered no longer fit in my life. This is NOT easy for me to do but I’ve found that the more I am able to release the old, the more space there is available for the new to come in. This includes new interests, new relationships, and even new directions for my life. Many of my clients have found interesting, stimulating new lives and new friends since they let go of their long-time homes, downsized and moved on to a new setting. Change can be a very good thing – if you allow it to be.
   
   
3. Think about what you want to bring into your life.
   How do you want to use your time this coming year? Maybe you’d like to make some new friends, take a class, pursue new interests, focus more time on what you care most about, create (or add to) a legacy for your family, or devote more time to quiet and meditation. What if this was your last year to live - how would you spend your time? None of us know at any age how long we have to live. SO appreciate this year and each new day as a blessing to be fully valued.
   
   
4. Do a “senior friendly/user friendly” home assessment.
   If you’re an older adult I suggest that an assessment be done annually to determine if there are modifications or changes needed to your home environment based on your current situation or capabilities. As you age there may be a need for continual changes to your living environment to allow you to function as fully as possible. At some point it may also be time to sell the big family home and move on to something smaller where help and support are available. Here are examples of things to be assessed: Is the interior lighting sufficient? Are support bars needed in the bathroom? Would closed captioning on your TV help with a hearing problem? There is a chapter on this topic and a list of items to be considered in my book, Living Transitions: A Step-by-Step Guide for a Later Life Move.
   
   
5. Get your personal records in order.
   Why is organizing your personal records important? Because should anything happen to you, those you leave behind (your spouse, family or friends) will need to have access to your important papers – trusts, wills, insurance policies, bank books, automobile titles, income tax returns, marriage certificates, etc. Where are they now? Too often a person dies and this information is NOT easy to locate. This puts an additional burden on the person or family left behind trying to deal with their grief, along with having the responsibility for your personal and financial affairs. Getting this job done will benefit those you care about and will take this worry off your mind. If you’ve already done this, then the big job is behind you. Now all you need to do is to review this information on an annual basis to see what changes you want to make, if any. If you haven’t done this already (and this applies whether you are middle aged or an older adult), then put this on your priority list this year. Again, there is a chapter on this topic and a list of items to be considered in my Living Transitions book.
   
   
6. Review your end-of-life decisions.
   This is also a good time to review your Durable Power of Attorney for health care and financial matters, your Living Will, and other related end-of-life documents for any changes. I fully realize that considering these decisions, thus contemplating your death, is not typically a high priority at any age. But depressing and scary as it can be, the repercussions of not planning and thinking ahead to the end of your life, while you are still able, can be enormous. Doing this planning allows you to consider your options, to make informed decisions, and gives you time to communicate your wishes to those close to you. Taking this step also shows deep respect and consideration on your part for your family members and friends, and can leave you with a feeling of completeness and peace. Consult with an attorney as needed. If you haven’t done this already, please seriously consider doing so this year. Remember death or a serious illness or injury can come at any time. Having these documents in place is an incredible gift to your loved ones.
   
   
7. Review your “final arrangements” plan.
   The same goes for having a “final arrangements” plan in place. Doing this planning allows you to put your wishes related to your funeral or memorial service in writing. This is your opportunity to indicate how you want your life to be mourned and celebrated after you die. This can be as brief or specific as you choose but get this done and review it on an annual basis. Change your plan as often as you need to so it reflects your current wishes and preferences.
   
   
8. Look for any remaining regrets.
   There is an added benefit of making your “final arrangements” plan. It gives you an opportunity to identify any regrets you may have about your life and to determine what you still want to do or accomplish. By identifying regrets, you can take steps to release or correct them. You can begin to fulfill your remaining dreams and wishes – either directly or vicariously through someone else’s experience. Annually (or more frequently) assess your life for remaining regrets and if you discover any, do everything possible to release or fulfill these regrets NOW. Don’t forget to forgive and ask for forgiveness where you need to in your life, to thank people, to say “I love you” and to say good-bye with each parting.

Taking an annual inventory of your life not only gives you a chance to set your house in order and to plan for the inevitable – it allows you an opportunity to plan for a future that remains open to new opportunities and possibilities all the way to its end. Do this NOW and schedule your own ritual for revisiting these issues once a year. This is a wonderful reminder to live this precious life you’ve been given as fully and completely as possible.

Sue Ronnenkamp is a nationally recognized expert in the area of later life, transitional moves. She is the founder and owner of Living Transitions , an Austin, Texas-based business that provides "hands on" help to older adults making downsizing moves. Sue also provides educational programs and resources including her book, Living Transitions: A Step-by-Step Guide for Making a Later Life Move , a long list of articles, popular presentations that shed a positive light and perspective on this topic, and a Business Starter Kit for Senior Move Specialists. For more information, check out Sue's web site at www.livingtransitions.com or call Sue at 512/407-8488.