The Most Valuable Family Heirlooms Don't Go Through Probate |
My parents died long ago, at an age when they and I were far too young. Many decades later, I keep in my home a few treasures from their lives: my mom’s China tea cups and wedding ring, and my dad's Purple Heart from the D-Day landing.
In recent years, my friends have begun to lose their parents at an age closer to current life expectancy. In the aftermath, I watch as estates are settled and decisions are made: Who gets the good silver, grandma’s earrings, dad’s favorite books, and the Christmas ornaments?
But these tangible objects, precious as they are, represent only the smallest part of our inheritance.
This thought crystallized for me as I signed off on the final edits of my second book, Buoyant: The Art and Science of a Resilient Life, to be published next year. It struck me that this practical guide to boosting resilience seemed to spring fully formed because of the deep imprinting of my parents, from their example and their unspoken lessons on how to navigate both life’s big troubles and daily ups and downs.
For each of us, our most valuable and enduring inheritance is bestowed long before an estate is probated. It isn’t found in rings and things but passed on through word and deed. It shows up as daily wisdom, our penchant for