By Nick Carney, Endowment and Legacy Giving Program Manager
I am an avid backpacker. Throughout my life, I’ve hiked many trails and trekked through many national parks throughout the country. I’ve explored the Sierra Mountains, the Cascade Mountains, the Rockies, and traveled through miles of forests in Appalachia. My enthusiasm for the outdoors started when I was in Boy Scouts. I remember going on a 10-mile weekend trip at 11 years old. When it was over, I was exhausted, but couldn’t wait to feel that sense of freedom again. Since then, I am always striving to go further and further. I’ve taken short, day hike trips, and I’ve hiked over hundreds of miles for nearly a month. The beauty, adventure, solitude, and simplicity all keep me coming back for more.
When I started out, I would bring a lot of equipment and even double up on items. Maybe extra food, another jacket, if I thought it would be cold, or a miscellaneous item for the most obscure of occurrences. This was later described to me as “packing my fears.” I think about that phrase, and it rings true. I realized I was carrying this heavy pack because I was worried about what might happen. You need to be prepared, but abundance can be overbearing. At the end of my trips, I started emptying my pack and going over every item asking myself, “Did I use this?” Eventually, my question even became, “Do I need this?” As time went on, I started bringing less, becoming more efficient, and feeling freer on my adventures.
Let’s challenge ourselves to ask some of these same questions when we look at our wealth, assets, and financial growth as we trek through life. Are we packing our fears? Do we save and save, constantly worried about the uncertainty of the future? If we carry our assets throughout our lives, we may wonder if are they even going to be used?
Making a legacy plan can help alleviate our fears about some of these issues. Planning for what happens after our lifetimes may help us feel a sense of purpose in our life, safe in the knowledge that when we finish our adventure, we know that every item we carry will be used with purpose. For most of us, our family and perhaps some close friends will be the main beneficiaries of our legacy. We should also consider the charitable organizations that have been significant in our lives which can continue our legacy in the broader community.
I challenge you to remove any fears and ask yourself what you need and how you will leave your legacy on this adventure.
For more information on planned giving or to meet an estate planning attorney that meets your needs, visit our legacy giving page contact Nick Carney at carney@catholiccf.org.
“Keep close to nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” — John Muir