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Jun 28

Judge Is In No Hurry To Decide Who Inherits Prince’s Estate

The probate process has never moved at lightning speed, but untangling Prince’s estate is going to take longer than anyone anticipated.

Minnesota District Judge Kevin Eide said that he is in no hurry to decide who will inherit Prince’s fortune. Since no will has been found, it will be up to the judge to preside over the distribution of the estate.

The issue at the latest hearing is the process for determining who is related to Prince, and who will be eligible to inherit. DNA tests may be required of claimants, depending on their claimed relationship.

Reference: Judge presiding over Prince estate in ‘no hurry’ to decide who inherits, USA Today, June 27, 2016

Jun 27, 2016

Teen Cancer Patient Throws Party Before Entering Hospice Care

I so admire the strength and courage of this brave 19-year-old cancer patient.

Morgan Long was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when she was only one year old. She has been fighting cancer for the past 18 years of her 19 year life!

Now Morgan’s doctors have told her that the fight is over. Just before entering hospice, her friends and family gathered to celebrate her life. Butterflies were released, and Morgan reminded them of her favorite mantra, “Hakuna Matata,” which means “no worries.”

Reference: Teen cancer patient throws party before entering hospice care, ABC Action News, June 26, 2016

Jun 23

Survey Reveals That 72% of Americans Do Not Have An Up-To-Date Will

According to a recent article published by AB Newswire, 63% of Americans do not have a Will, and 9% have a Will that is out-of-date. This means that 72% of Americans do not have an up-to-date Last Will and Testament!

Reference: US Survey Reveals that 72% of Americans Do Not Have an Up-to-Date Will, ABNewswire, June 21, 2016.

Jun 21

Choosing The Right Agent – Financial Power of Attorney

As a former hospital nurse, I can tell you that no one was ever expecting the emergency situations that occurred.

The truth is that none of us knows what the future holds. The best strategy is to be prepared.

One way to be prepared is to have a financial power of attorney. A financial power of attorney allows you (the “principal”) to give another person (your “agent”) the authority to act for you, and to make financial decisions for you if you are ever incapacitated.

If you do become incapacitated, your power of attorney could become the most important legal document you ever signed. A financial power of attorney can ensure that the right decisions will be made for you by the right person at the right time.

However, you should be aware that a power of attorney can be used as a tool to take advantage of you financially, or to interfere with your estate plan. For this reason, you should choose the agent for your financial power of attorney very carefully. You may also want to consider options to discourage potential financial exploitation, such as limiting your agent’s power to make gifts, naming a co-agent, or requiring that your agent report transactions to a third party.

Your power of attorney document should be specifically tailored to meet your needs and goals. It is best to avoid “one-size-fits-all documents” that you print from the internet. Your document should be prepared by a skilled estate planning attorney with your individual situation in mind.

It is a good idea to discuss your power of attorney with the family members who could be involved in your care some day. You can discuss the preparations you have made and answer any questions.

Taking the time to address these difficult issues in advance can ease the burden on your family members and promote family harmony if you ever do become incapacitated.

Jun 17

Seven Anti-Aging Lifestyle Strategies

Here are seven lifestyle changes that may help to slow down the aging process:

1. Eat healthy fats
Coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, avocados, wild salmon, nuts and seeds are among the highest quality fats we can consume. Good fats actually optimize metabolism, support positive mood and cognition, and benefit the skin and eyes.

2. Eat lean and clean protein
Protein helps build the hormones and neurotransmitters that we need to feel great. It also supports the building of lean muscle (and prevents muscle loss), promotes balanced blood sugar, helps support concentration and a positive mood, and supports healthy weight.

3. Stop Eating Sugar
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) form in the body when sugar reacts with proteins and fats in the body. The more sugar (glucose or fructose) in the body, the more AGEs. An increase of AGEs in the body can damage cells, cause inflammation, and cause advanced aging and chronic degenerative disease. AGEs have been linked to diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease.

4. Eat More Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Dark green vegetables include broccoli, collard greens, spinach, Swiss chard, kale, and various lettuces. The antioxidants in these vegetables help protect the skin, brain, and cells from damage by unstable molecules. They also contain vitamin C, which helps to prevent wrinkles.

5. Eat brightly colored fruits and veggies
The brightly colored organic fruits and vegetables contain vitamin C and carotenoids that support eye health and skin health. The fiber in fresh fruits and veggies help us to maintain a healthy weight.

6. Avoid Eating Starchy and Processed Carbohydrates
Baked goods (cookies, muffins, cakes), pasta, potatoes, crackers, pretzels, chips can literally fast-forward the aging process. The body quickly turns these foods into sugar. The consumption of starchy carbs is associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and depression.

7. Exercise
Embrace high intensity intervals, resistance training, walking, yoga, hiking, gardening, dancing, and swimming. These forms of exercise, increase lean muscle, improve mood, help us maintain a healthy body weight and keeps our brain sharp. Did you know that endurance training, over the long run, can actually fast-forward the aging process?

Reference: 7 Anti-Aging Lifestyle Strategies, 9 News, May 24, 2016, by Dr. James Rouse.

Jun 16

Still Teaching Yoga At Age 97

I have been following Tao Porchon-Lynch for years. Recently, I came across yet another article about her in the New York Times.

Tao grew up in India, and discovered yoga when she was only eight years old. She has studied yoga with several of the notable masters. In May 2012, the Guinness Book of World Records recognized Tao Porchon-Lynch as the world’s oldest yoga instructor at age 93.

In 2013, Tao worked with Tara Stiles to produce a yoga DVD, titled Yoga with Tao Porchon-Lynch, which is available on Amazon.com.

Tao has written two books about the practice of yoga: Reflections: The Yogic Journey of Life, and Dancing Light: The Spiritual Side of Being Through the Eyes of a Modern Yoga Master, which won three 2016 International Book Awards.

Tao’s energy and enthusiasm are an inspiration to me. At 97 years old, she still teaches six to eight classes a week in New York, and leads programs all over the world.

Learn more about Tao in this video: Inspiration, Life & “Dancing Light”