Dancing Backwards In High Heels

Personal Thoughts On Life

Five years ago, on February 14, my Daddy (its a southern thing) died. It took me two weeks to shed a tear. I’ve thought of those days preceding his death and immediately following his death often over the past years, wondering what if. You see, for the 8 years prior to his death, we had not spoken. (his choice) The argument was over something that was serious to me then, but seems so silly now. But more importantly, I never knew that he really loved me as a person. For those almost 50 years of my life that he’d been my Daddy, I can count on one finger how many times he ever said he loved me. And that was the day that I visited him, on his request, prior to his death. Now, in terms of providing for his family, yes he did well. We didn’t want for much. We had a house and food, we went to church and to school. I received an undergraduate degree from a State College, kind of a normal household. But all through those years, I never felt that I had made him proud. I excelled in school, sports, church related activities, married well and produced a grand child. There weren’t hugs, kisses, laudatory statements or pats on the back. “Do Better” was the chant around the house. Now, I’m not saying that’s all bad. And I’m not asking for sympathy here. I had a pretty “normal” childhood, for a product of the 50’s. But what I am getting to here, is I’m a driven person. I’ve always been motivated to do more, do better, be the best. I’m grateful for the drive that Daddy instilled in me, though somedays, I feel like I’m dancing backwards in high heels. And I long to hear those words from him, I love you. As I built the 1 Million Memories site, I think I heard him say, job well done. I hope that each of you who are touched by the site will comment and tell others about it. There’s a memory book where you can add your own special memory of your parents or anyone else. Please join our cause. Parents love your children. Tell them every day. Let them know that they’re special in your eyes and your heart, no matter their abilities and weaknesses. Don’t wait, do it now. Life is short and our children are our greatest assets.

Activism is Contagious

Number 3 in the Remarkable Bloggers© Series

Activism is contagious and so is Pelf, a 20 something year old blogger from Malaysia. This young lady has the heart of a champion and the brains to go with it. Her latest blog post is about her recent win of a a 4-month scholarship, and involves professional training in the conservation of turtles. The scholarship is only awarded to two participants from the Asian countries every year, since the inception in 2000. She is the first participant to represent Malaysia.

The Asian Scholarship Program for In-situ Chelonian Conservation (ASPin-situCC) is primarily seated at the Wetlands Institute in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Begun in 2000, the ASPin-situCC has funded fourteen international chelonian conservationists participation in the Wetland Institute’s Terrapin Recovery Project, a community based conservation effort. This opportunity involves field work designed to learn about, and to protect, the northern diamondback terrapin, a salt marsh turtle that inhabits the US eastern seaboard.

This bright young woman has completed her Masters studies and is on her way to a brilliant future, caring for and continuing conservation work in her area and hopefully more areas of the world. 

She also hosts another blog, The Giving Hands, which is an extension of her charity and conservation work online, which revolves around creating and spreading awareness on matters pertaining to charity, conservation, the environment, health & volunteerism.

This young woman has done remarkable things in her life, already. The next 30 years will be a true pleasure to witness. Her strength of character, wit and intelligence will carry her far. Congratulations Pelf, you truly are a Remarkable Blogger©!

Do YOU know a Remarkable Blogger©? Tell me about them. They could be the next featured here.

Is your Insurance A Perfect Fit ?

Nearly 60% of U.S. households are inadequately covered. It doesn’t have to be about adding costs; sometimes lifes little changes can save you money.

Insurance policies, like good clothing, provide the most comfort when they fit well.  Having the wrong policy coverage can be like trying to squeeze your perfect size 10 into a Paris Hilton size 1! According to the Insurance Information Institute, at least 32 million households in the United States own insurance policies that aren’t right for them. In fact, in 2006, 58% of homes were undervalued in their policies by an average of 21%. Now that’s pretty scary, isn’t it?

But how can you tell if your insurance policy doesn’t fit correctly?

A good time to test it is when you undergo a major change in your life. For example, if you’ve recently gotten married or divorced, it may be time to update your homeowners and life insurance policies. You could be eligible for a discount on your auto insurance if you’ve just walked down the aisle.

And don’t forget to update your life insurance protection when you have a new baby —  33% of households with new additions are so busy with their bundles of joy that they forget to do so.

While getting married and having kids are the life events that may prompt insurance changes, there are several other instances when you should review your policies.

• Have you recently  renovated your home? Major home improvements, such as adding a new room or expanding a kitchen, should be properly insured. You’ll want your hard work reflected — and covered — in your homeowners insurance.
• When your teenager gets a driver’s license: It’s usually cheaper to add your teen to your current auto policy than to buy a separate one. If he has his own car, your company may offer a multipolicy discount. Good grades or honor roll? Many companies offer discounts for earning at least a B average in school,(provide proof) so ask about it or you may not get it.
• Inherited or purchased valuables such as jewelry or art ? Your homeowners policy may provide only limited coverage for expensive items such as electronics, antiques or jewelry. You might want to supplement your policy with a rider that provides additional insurance for valuables. Be sure to get the items professionally appraised and keep the paperwork so you know what they’re worth and you can provide documentation to your agent.
•  Renting ? Your landlord is responsible only for insuring the structure of the building, not the possessions in it. Fully  1/2 of renters do not have insurance on their belongings. Its a cheap buy, you can cover $40K for roughly $40/month. Get renters insurance to cover theft and other damages. This one is really a No-Brainer!
• Retiring? Your auto insurance premiums could drop considerably (read, no more long commutes to work). And, ahem, another way maturity pays off, as well: companies often offer discounts for drivers above the age of 50. (Make being “carded” a compliment!
• If you have recently changed employment or get a significant raise (or decrease) in your salary: Does your new employer offer life insurance coverage? If not, and your old employer did, you’ll have to get an individual policy. Major salary changes may also affect your life insurance policy, so review your needs and talk to your  HR department and your agent.Life insurance is not the type of insurance that many people think about on a daily basis. Although your everyday activities may affect your life insurance, it is not required by law and many people don’t think about obtaining it until they have married or have had children. Life insurance policies are for those that still live after someone has died. If you have a family and help to support them financially, obtaining life insurance is a good plan to have. If something happens to you, your loved ones will not be left without financial support.There are two major forms of life insurance that you should know about before making your decision to obtain it. They serve the same purpose, but they offer the purchaser of the policy some different features.
  • Term Life insurance offers the purchaser a low monthly life insurance rate, or premium, in exchange for a limited term for the policy’s existence. Term life insurance policies can be purchased for 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 year terms, depending on the needs of the purchaser and the beneficiaries. Many people purchase this type of life insurance to protect their family while children are growing up or before they have reached retirement. Getting a term life insurance quote from several different term life insurance companies is a good idea so that you’ll have a better understanding of what sort of term life insurance rates you’ll be paying and what sort of policy you can get in return.
  • Whole life insurance offers an unlimited life insurance policy to the holder. This policy does not expire, so it will continue throughout your lifetime. Some of the whole life insurance rate that you will pay each month will go towards an investment, although this can sometimes be an expensive route to investment. Whole life insurance policies are generally a good idea for those who want to have money set aside to pay for taxes on their estate after they pass away, or intend to hold onto it for longer than 20 years.

 Both kinds of life insurance have pros and cons, but they are generally for two separate groups of policyholders. Be sure to discuss with your insurance agent or life insurance company to see what type of life insurance plans they offer. Your term life insurance rate or your whole life insurance rate will vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including general health, the length of the policy, and who it covers. It’s a good idea to get several term life insurance quotes or whole life insurance quotes so that you get the best deal for your financial situation.

Still not convinced that you even need life insurance? Its the cornerstone of good financial planning. While you purchase it primarily to provide for your loved ones after your death it can be a good source for charitable giving and an additional savings source thats not taxable!

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