Perfect Poise, Perfect Life
Bring your body into balance and revolutionise your life
By Noel Kingsley
Publisher Hodder Mobius
AVAILABLE HERE
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Last Will and Testament
Attending to outstanding matters has been a focus of mine in recent weeks. One of which is updating my Last Will and Testament so that the appropriate people receive what I would like them to receive. It is many, many years since I wrote my last Will and with changes to my life and those who are closest it is important for it to be updated. I wonder why it has taken me so long...
Having postponed the writing of my Will for years as something that "I'll get around to soon, but I'm too busy at the moment", the finished item now lies in front of me, looking very formal and final awaiting my signature along with those of two witnesses before being returned to my solicitor.
I read the carefully worded instructions on how to sign my will, absorbing the strict legal formalities that need to be followed in order for the Will to be valid. Ideally it needs to be done in front of a solicitor who can oversee the procedure. Apparently many Wills are deemed invalid owing to these careful procedures not being followed properly.
But this is Friday, and I go away tomorrow for 7 days in Dorset.... I'm not sure if I can get my partner and I in front of a solicitor for these rather formal, if short proceedings before I return to my practice!
Over the years I have learnt to believe that anything can happen any time. This can mean the most wonderful things can transpire to lift our hearts and fill us with joy, without any forewarning. You just never know what's coming your way! I check my pulse and stick my tongue out at the mirror. All looks reasonably well, but I'm not trained to diagnose; I'm not a doctor but a teacher of the Alexander Technique. Supposing I die before my Will is properly signed...
It is strange that after so many years of delaying and postponing the act of writing my Will, that as soon as it is actually under way, I feel the greatest urgency to have it signed, sealed and delivered into the hands of my solicitor who can act on my behalf, in the untimely circumstances of me passing on before I've finished my work here on earth. A quick mental check on what I'm here for brings to mind a list of things outstanding. What am I to do before I pop off?
Trying to think, of what is most important that I do not omit from my generally happy life becomes almost difficult. There are those things I feel should be done; there are things I feel I'd like to do; there are things I could do, but are not absolutely necessary to having been fulfilled in my life-time's achievements. I must give more Alexander Technique lessons; I want to work with a great many more people yet. More photography and maybe some published work. My violin playing is no where near good enough to hang up my bow, and I haven't done all these hundreds nay, thousands of hours practice to waste it in departing so soon. Lots more walks; I do not feel that I have appreciated the countryside adequately, nor have I seen my friends and family sufficiently often.
Do I need to buy things? Do I need a few more gadgets and accessories to life? I think not. What I need, what I want is more personal experience, to do more, to physically and mentally get involved in more, to enjoy the participation in activities, in art, music; to feel alive within myself, to have contributed to the world in just a small way and even benefited others. I need to give more, to remember that this is why I'm here; not to take, but to give.
Heck, I've got so much to achieve, to enjoy and participate in, so many experiences that I need to have that I must just get on and do them right now! There is only one moment. Today. No, this minute. There is no use in delaying. So without feeling stressed or rushed in any way, I now resign, no, resolve within myself to go and get on with life and do what I really want to do, right now.
There is nothing like writing your Will, to get your ass in gear, but I'll file it in my drawer for a week and I promise to make it back here from my vacation, in good health, in good spirits, in good form and with sufficient life in me to do lots more yet. The signing can wait.
I'll be writing some blogs from Dorset, so please do join me when you can. :-)
