April 2023 Monthly Newsletter Cover Article
Don’t regret the chances you didn’t take. Take a chance on your legacy and protect your future with Beach Cities Estate Law today.
Lewis Carroll, an English author, once said, “In the end, we only regret the chances that we didn’t take.” April 23 is designated as National Take a Chance Day, celebrating the importance of going out on a limb and stepping outside your comfort zone. By trying something new, we can accomplish great things. I certainly recognize many examples of this in my own life!
When I was in my late 20s, I had not yet met that special someone, and I was looking for opportunities to do so. I joined the Sierra Club and took a backpacking class. (Prior to this time, I was a “sit by the pool with a tropical drink” kind of gal, so this was definitely out of my comfort zone!) I made some great memories over the next few years, conquering and climbing the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and summiting Mt. Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental United States.
Ironically, my taking up backpacking led to my husband and me getting together. Kevin and I knew each other back in college and had many mutual friends, but we never dated. After graduation, I would return to Notre Dame every year to see friends and attend football games. Kevin was usually there, but neither of us gave each other a second thought.
After I started backpacking, however, a bit of a spark emerged. On that year’s trip to Notre Dame, we spent the entire time talking to each other about our various backpacking adventures. Kevin mentioned that he’d like to visit California the following summer to backpack in the Sierra. I took a chance and invited him to go snowshoeing in Yosemite that winter. He hopped on the opportunity; you can say the rest is history! I often stop to think about how glad I am that I took that chance and extended that invitation, or we may never have developed a romantic relationship and gone on to get married. Taking that chance truly altered the trajectory of my life in the best way possible.
Many of you know I took some time off from my career when I had children. Once I was ready to return, I took another big chance. Instead of joining an established law firm, I started my own law practice. I noticed many “cheap” outfits offered quick, thrown-together estate plans for a low price, and then there were the “big-name” firms that served those with large, multimillion-dollar net worths. There was nothing in between, and that void was calling my name, and my desire to provide a good quality legal service propelled me forward.
The greatest piece of advice I can offer is that if you, like many others, are hesitant to invest your time and financial resources in your estate plan, I recommend you take the chance. Here at Beach Cities Estate Law, you will see the difference. You are not just another number — you become part of the Beach Cities Estate Law family, and to support an ever-changing world, we will tweak your estate plan as many times as it takes to reflect all of life’s curveballs and alterations. I will guide you through the process — there’s no time like the present to start protecting your legacy for future generations. It’s time to take a chance.