William Penn Life, 2017 (52. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2017-06-01 / 6. szám
Aging Well with Cathy Graham The grace of agin ONE OF THE MOST palatable graces of aging is the ability to leave the bam door wide open. We know the cadence of our own drumbeat so well that our hearts simply sway with the motion of change; we know it cannot take us under. No longer do we run up the flag pole at every twist and turn. We know for sure that fret rarely changes outcomes and overreacting is a poor use of energy. This morning, as I was walking with my dog Russell, I noticed that any utterance from the wind would cause him to stop and turn away. "No," I said quietly as I knelt down to him. "Face the wind and stand still. It feels glorious; it is change knocking on the barn door." (Pause for clarification: Yes, I do have conversations with Russell as he appreciates my prudent charm.) Our steadfastness in our faith and experiences sturdies our foundation in such a way that we don't wish for desired outcomes; we simply pray for the strength to handle what may come. I find great comfort in knowing that by leaving my barn door open, I am reaffirming all that I know to be true. I know there will be sadness and pain ahead, and I will gently lean into it, aware that goodness is not too far off. I look to my elders for cues and guidance, never doubting the strength of their years. Their astuteness is methodical; their hands weathered by wisdom. When I become shaky, I reach for their steadiness and my roots grow deeper. If you want to know the answers to life, find someone older and sit for a spell. Their stories will knit you a warm blanket which will give you great comfort when the wind turns fierce and the bam door is wide open. Cathy Graham is director of the Graceful Aging Wellness Center at Bethlen Communities in Ligonier, Pa. Notes from the Secretary's Desk tion of your request to participating insurance/annuity companies and will ask them to search their records to determine whether they have a life insurance policy or annuity contract in the name of the deceased. Note that insurance companies participate in this service on a voluntary basis, so not all companies are included in the search. If a company has relevant information, the company will respond directly to you, the requester, if you are the designated beneficiary or are authorized to receive information. If no companies have any information, you will not be contacted. • Check with your state government to see if it offers its own policy locator service. Some states ask insurers to participate on a voluntary basis while others have mandated such searches. Currently, WPA participates with the following states: Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio and New York. • Search MIB's online database for lost policies at www. mib.com. Just click on the "Get More Info" tab under "Assistance Finding Lost Life Insurance." This MIB program is a data-sharing service for life and health insurance companies and offers a policy locator service for consumers. For $75 (non-refundable), MIB will search for applications underwritten since 1996 among its 420 member companies. Please note this service has certain limitations and generally applies to insurance face amounts of $100,000 and above. In addition, results do not indicate whether any life insurance was ever issued and/or actually in force at time of the deceased's passing, or whether any benefits are payable. • Finally, search online for unclaimed property for your loved one or under your name as a possible beneficiary. Insurance companies are required to transfer life insurance and annuity proceeds to unclaimed property divisions after a specified dormancy period. Most states have an unclaimed property division for you to conduct a free search. In addition, there is a multi-state search available online at MissingMoney.com, sponsored by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. Hope this information has been helpful! 'Til next time! □ WILLIAM PENN LIFE 0 June 2017 0 5 7 Can Stock Photo lnc./n
