Life is a bunch of roses until something unexpected happens. How prepared are you and your family when life throws you a curve ball? Here are three documents you must have if you want to sleep well at night.A Will
A will is a legal document that states how you want your assets to be disbursed you’re your death. ___% of families do not have a will. When you die without a will, it is known as intestate, this means your state will decide how your property is disbursed. If you do have a will…great; however, this is what you need to know. A will only goes into effect upon your death. In addition, if you die with only a will, it must go through probate court. This can be a long drawn out, expensive and very public process.

A Revocable Living Trust
A revocable living trust has a lot more muscle than a will. This document allows you to accomplish two things. First, you can transfer ownership of any asset to the trust while you are still alive. Secondly, it allows you to name a trustee (the person who will manage the assets for you). The main advantage of the revocable living trust is that it side steps the whole process of probate court.  Again by avoiding probate court you can allocate possessions immediately, potentially save thousands of dollars and maintain your privacy.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (DPOAHC)
A DPOAHC does two things. First it tells health care providers the level of medical intervention that you want in the event that you are unable to speak for yourself and secondly it appoints someone to advocate your wishes if you cannot. The best example that I can give is Terry Schiavo. When Terry was 26 years old she suffered a heart attack that left her in a permanent vegetative state. Her husband wanted to take her off life support however her parents wanted the exact opposite. The drama that ensued was played out on a national platform, in the legal courts and the court of public opinion. If Terry Schiavo had a DPOAHC her wishes, not her husband’s or parents, would have been carried out quickly and privately.

Now if you already have these documents, congratulations! When was the last time you looked at them? Are the beneficiaries updated? Do you need to add or delete anything or anyone? Pull them out today and make your wishes known.

Golda Smith is a Primerica Financial Services representative, writer and stay-at-home mom. For more information, visit www.primerica.com/goldasmith

Talk Back

Have questions or a comment? Share your thoughts in the reader comment section below.

By taking a few steps now to reduce stress, plan ahead and focus on the best aspects of the season, you can make the holidays a more balanced and joyful season for both you and your family.

1. Celebrate On Your Own Terms
Take a step back and think about what the holidays really mean to you.  Take time to examine your normal holiday activities. Are you doing things because they’re expected of you, it’s tradition, or based on a fantasy or ideal of the perfect holiday dinner or season? Do you feel wiped out after it’s all said and done?

Make a decision to focus on the true meaning of the season then choose to celebrate in ways that are appropriate for you and your family. Maybe it’s not the big dinner that you normally cook—maybe it’s a potluck instead, or as a friend does, orders up dinner for the family. Or this year, do something different and volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Being of service can lift your spirit and shift your focus on the needs of others in a healthy and productive way.

2. Set Your Boundaries and Respect Them
Yes, learning to say “no” is still on the list of resolutions this year. For the holidays, this could mean, saying no to unexpected requests to cook, to opening your home to house guests, or credit card debt. You can also say no to the materialism or the perfectionism of the season and say “yes” to staying true to yourself and your values.

3. Plan Ahead
This is one of the simplest principles but one of the hardest for many of us to stick with. Waiting until the last minute is almost a ritual for some of us. But it’s also a major source of stress during the holidays. Start now to plan a buget, creat a menu plan, a shopping schedule (for food, gifts, decorations, etc.). You will also want to delegate some responsibilities–now is the time to ask for help. Let your partner, children and other family members know what you will need for them and give them time to prepare or adjust their schedules so they can pitch in when needed.

4. Be Realistic

If there ever was time to let go of perfectionism – this is it. Be flexible and trust that no matter how much you plan, unexpected things can happen and that you can’t control everything, or people for that matter. If you’ll be with family, try to keep things light and enjoyable. Know that now is not the time to dredge up old wounds or to count on your efforts or gifts to “make things right” with Big Mama. The chances of longstanding family conflicts being resolved over Christmas dinner are slim. Your efforts can be great first steps but don’t add additional stress by setting unrealistic expectations. Give yourself permission to enjoy the season peacefully and joyfully.

5. Make time for yourself.
With everything that’s going on during the holidays, it’s hard to think of making time for yourself. But that time alone to take a walk, journal or get a massage can make an often stressful period more enjoyable. You will have to conserve your energy and make time for others, so making sure you are eating right, exercising and managing stress will go a long way in keeping you sane during the holidays. Quiet moments alone to reflect on the blessing in your life will make the season all the better and richer.

Have Your Say

What do you do to simplify the holidays? Are you doing anything differently this year? Share your thoughts in the reader comment section below.

Yes, this is going to sound schmaltzy, but last night I felt proud to be an American citizen for the first time. I’ve only been a citizen since 2002, and for many years I have been an Israeli living in America.

When I was studying at NYU from 1984 - 86, I worked in places that looked like a bombarded Berlin after World War II. I saw kindergarten children shuffle into the class, too depressed to even lift up their feet. There were classrooms with bars like a prison and locks and I was the only white person for miles around. Then I would go to my other job, on Park Ave., where the children arrived in stretched limos. Most days I was consumed with rage and hopelessness. I did not like America.

I returned to Israel and when I came back to this country in 1990 following Stuart’s PHD pursuit, it was never with the intention to stay, but it became apparent in 2000 that we are not going back. Though I became a citizen, I felt my “otherness” more than ever and I was still a foreigner when I participated in my first election in 2004. Growing up in the parliamentary system of Israel, in a place where over 90% of the population voted, it was hard to understand this America, the greatest democracy on earth where a “whopping” 44% of the population voted at all?

But such is the power of narrative that it can carry us humans into the unimaginable! Barak Obama managed to shift the narrative of a nation and create a story of hope. It was exhilarating to feel the energy, to be part of so many people just showing up - “what can I do?” It was awe inspiring to experience the organization of the Obama campaign - SO many people - each doing their little bit and together like clockwork things get done. I knocked on doors of houses in Harrisburg PA that looked like they were about to crumble and yes, most of the people there were black. The few that were home to open the door nodded: “yes, I’m voting.” ” yes, I know where to go”. “yes I’ll be there”. One man enthusiastically took more pamphlets and added them to his collection, meticulously taping them on his storm door. another called to us on the street: “Are you kidding me? no way I miss this one, wild horses will not drag me away!”

Last night I cried and I screamed. Last night I heard words of wisdom and courage and for once, it did not feel naive or stupid to be someone who believes in hope. I don’t know how to live without it. Hope is the secret ingredient that makes humans capable of surviving against all odds. When there is something to look forward to, when there is hope, everything and anything can happen. When we have a narrative that touches our heart we can find the strength to get up in the morning in the face of illness, pain and death. WE chose a leader capable of holding this hope for us.

This amazing shift that we are now part of is bigger than America and I believe that psychologically and emotionally it will impact the entire globe. I pray that my people in Israel will have the courage to elect a leader worthy of their hopes and dreams for peace and my hopes for peace are now greater than ever.

I have never felt more grateful and excited and happy to be part of this great nation. Thank you America!

Born and raised in Jerusalem, trained in theater and education, Noa Baum is an acclaimed performance artist, educator and workshop facilitator who brings stories to life with her animated and energetic style. Her storytelling performances and workshops build  bridges of understanding and compassion between East and West, American and Israeli, Arab and Jew, past and present. Nora’s next storytelling class begins November 10th www.noabaum.com

This election, like no other, represents an opportunity for all of us to vote our values and make a difference today and for future generations. But which candidate, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) or Senator John McCain (R-AZ), will lead us toward a healthier, more environmentally-conscious and sustainable America?

Whether you support McCain or Obama, your vote is important. Women yield an incredible amount of power at the voting booth. In 2004, 8.8 million more women than men voted in the presidential election. This year, we can take a stand for a better health care system, one focused on preventive care and equal access to high-quality, affordable treatment, care and prescription drugs for all Americans.

We also need a president that is fully committed to a healthier planet for our kids to grow and live. One that will provide real leadership on climate change, alternative energy sources and a green economy that rewards innovation and keeps jobs at home.

With Election Day around the corner, I’ve listed links to some of the best resources for in-depth information on where the presidential candidates stand on two of the most pressing issues this election season. You’ll also find links and phone numbers to voter protection hotlines at the end of this guide.

On Health Care

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) offers a side-by-side comparison of both presidential candidates’ proposals and positions on a variety of health care issues including covering the nation’s 47 million uninsured, prescription drugs, long-term care, biomedical research, women’s health, veteran’s care, mental health parity and racial and ethnic disparities. . KFF also has a collection of video highlights (soundbites) of both Senators remarks on health care topics while on the campaign trail.

Your Candidates Your Health, a voter education initiative presented by Research! America and over 40 partners, provides a comparison tool outlining the 2008 presidential and congressional candidates position’s on health and research. Enter you zip code on the site to find your local candidates.

The Bottom Line:

The nonpartisan, Urban Institute’s analysis (PDF) of both Senators McCain and Obama’s health care plans concluded:

“In short, Obama’s proposal contains the basic components necessary for effectively addressing the most important shortcomings of the current health care system, that is, limited coverage, inadequate risk pooling, and high-cost growth.”

“In brief, McCain’s proposal would dramatically change how many Americans obtain health insurance coverage, make coverage less accessible for those with health problems, have a high budget cost, but have little effect on the number uninsured.”

On the Environment and Green Economy

Grist.org provide an easy to read, at-a-glance chart on where the candidates stand on environmental issues including climate change, offshore drilling, renewal energy, biofuels, nuclear energy and fuel economy standards for automobiles.

Alternet.org’s Obama vs. McCain: Saving the Environment May be Our Best Hope for the Economy — Voter Guide outlines ten key environmental issues this year including green jobs, clean energy, climate change, biofuels and more. Solutions are presented for the each issue along with what both McCain and Obama have proposed and already done to address these challenges.

The Bottom Line:

The nonpartisan Pew Center on Climate Change (PDF) concluded:

The plans of Sen. Obama and Sen. McCain for addressing global climate change are remarkably similar to each other, and are profoundly different from those of the current administration. Either, if enacted, would make major reductions in U.S. GHG emissions. While there are more similarities than differences between the two candidates’ proposals, some of the differences that do exist are significant.

Some of these differences include additional and specific proposals presented by Obama, including:

• Obama would declare CO2 a dangerous pollutant and direct the Environmental Protection Agency to use the 1990 Clean Air Act to set emissions limits on power plants and manufacturers. (Bloomberg.com Oc 16, 2008).
• Obama would provide families with a $1,000 tax credit and stimulus checks paid for by taxing the oil companies’ record profits. He will also close the loophole that allows speculators to game the system and run up energy prices.
• Creation of a Global Energy Forum - based on the G8+5, which include all G-8 members plus Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa - of the world’s largest emitters to focus exclusively on global energy and environmental issues.
• Invests $150 billion over the next ten years in alternative sources of energy - wind and solar power, and advanced biofuels, in the commercialization of plug-in hybrid cars, and development a new digital electricity grid.

Time magazine

• Obama promises to spend $150 billion over 10 years to create 5 million new green-collar jobs.

For more information, www.johnmccain.com and www.barackobama.com

Election Day Resources

• Find your polling place - www.vote411.org/pollfinder.php
• Early voting - does your state allow early voting, find out here: www.vote411.org/bytopic.php?topicID=13

Election Hotlines - Direct your election-related questions or report problems at your polling place, voter intimidation and other concerns to:

• U.S. Department of Justice (800) 253-3931
• ACLU Voting Rights Project (877) 523-2792
• Election Protection Hotline (866) OUR-VOTE.
• CNN Voter Hotline (877)-GOCNN-08

image: news8.net

1. Create an early detection plan. One of the best ways to fight breast cancer is to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. When breast cancer is found early, the 5-year survival rate is 98%. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a free interactive planning tool to help you create an early detection plan, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org/edp

2. Click to give free mammograms. The Breast Cancer Site offers free mammograms for women in need. Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. www.thebreastcancersite.com

3. Join the celebration chain. Create a personalized doll in honor of a woman you know who has faced or is facing breast cancer. For every doll created, Astrazeneca will donate $1, up to $25,000 to a breast cancer charity. www.celebrationchain.com

4. Vote for the cure. Encourage our political leaders to make breast cancer a national priority. Take a moment to sign the I Vote for the Cure petition, which outlines three critical goals in the fight to end breast cancer. For more information and to sign the petition, visit Komen for the Cures’ advocacy site www.ivoteforthecure.org

5. Join the Army of Women. The Love/Avon Army of Women is a national initiative to recruit one million women of every age, ethnicity, and breast cancer history interested in partnering with scientists and taking part in breast cancer research .Participation may mean anything from filling out a questionnaire to donating blood, breast duct fluid, saliva, or a core biopsy of breast tissue. Every project undergoes a scientific, safety, and ethical review before it can be accepted as an Army of Women project. www.armyofwomen.org

Join the Conversation!

Do you have other ways to give back to the cause? Join the conversation. Share your tips and breast cancer charity links in the comment section below.

Join our email list for more women’s health and wellness tips and upcoming events.

Historically, alcoholism, domestic violence, divorce, depression and suicide often increase during periods of economic upheaval. We’re also more likely to reach for unhealthy foods, overeat and smoke during stressful times, raising the risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic conditions.

Employee requests for therapists have increased 15-20% over the past three months, according to the CEO of ComPsych, one of the largest employee assistance programs in the U.S. But there’s a silver lining in ComPsych’s data: busy therapists and counselors mean more people are recognizing the dangers of stress and reaching out for help.

If you’ve ever needed extra motivation, taking better care of your self could not only save your life, but your job. It’s no secret American companies have been outsourcing jobs overseas in large part because of rising health care costs. Smoking, obesity, alcohol and poor eating habits all drive up the price of health care coverage. In the face of growing financial constraints, unhealthy employees will be targeted for firing or reduced pay.

It’s already happening. At Scott’s Miracle-Grow Company, employees who test positive for nicotine can find themselves in the unemployment line. At other companies such as Indianapolis-based Clarian Health, high-risk employees, including smokers and overweight workers, can see $25-30 deducted from each paycheck. Plus in an era when more and more companies are cutting back on paid sick leave, time out of the office even for a few days could result in lost in wages and threaten job security.

These policies might seem harsh—and even raise privacy concerns, but they’re powerful incentives for employees to take better care of themselves. To their credit, many employers, including the two listed above, offer wellness programs that reward employees for taking steps to improve their health.

The bottom line: during these uncertain and stressful times, it’s even more important to be proactive about your health.

Avocados – High in fiber and packed with monounsaturated fats that can improve cholesterol, avocados are also rich in potassium, folate, and vitamins A, C and E. Enjoy avocados with a salad, taco or atop a whole wheat cracker or crisp bread.

Squash – From acorn to spaghetti, winter squash comes in many delicious and colorful varieties. Squash is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, folate, potassium, fiber and vitamin A. Try it baked, boiled or as the base for soups and pies.

Apples - From turkey stuffing to salads, apples are the stars of good autumn eating. Also high in fiber (average of 4 grams) and potassium, apples contain more quercetin per serviing than any other fruit. Quercitin is a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that can prevent cell, tissue and blood vessel damage.

Cranberries - At their peak between October and December, cranberries are great sources of vitamin C, fiber, manganese, and vitamin K. Tart, tangy and sweet, cranberries are used to treat and prevent urinary tract infections and according to recent studies, may lower cholesterol and blood pressure, promote oral health, and prevent cancer and heart disease.

Related Articles:

• Celebrate Fall at Home
• Stay Healthy During Flu Season

Beets – Known for their reddish-purple color, beets also grow in white, golden or rainbow varieties. Whether served raw on a salad or roasted with other vegetables, beets add beautiful color and powerful nutrients including folate, potassium, manganese, vitamin C and iron to any meal.

Pumpkin - Near synonymous with the fall, pumpkins were celebrated by Native Americans for their medicinal and nutritional properties. The star attractions at many fall festivals, pumpkins with their rich orange color, are loaded with vitamin A and beta-carotene, which may prevent blindness, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancer.

Sweet Potato – Sweet potatoes are packed with powerful nutrients and antioxidants that lower “bad” cholesterol and blood pressure, improves circulation, stabilizes blood sugar, lowers insulin resistance and may even aid weight loss. Try them mashed, baked or in a pie.

Sources: World’s Healthiest Foods; USDA

Image: fromthelbc, flickr

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time for a lifestyle makeover, says author and fitness coach Bridgette Collins. Bridgette started MAC Fitness (Making-A-Commitment to Fitness) in 2002 to educate, coach, and motivate individuals who struggle with adopting healthier lifestyle habits.

During our interview, Bridgette stressed the importance of taking steps today to start living the life you deserve.

You suggest women take a look at three areas of their lives when considering a lifestyle makeover. What are those three focal areas?
Today’s woman wants to live a life that’s fun and exciting, simplified, healthy, and offers a sense of purpose. A lifestyle makeover occurs when you strategically plan, pursue, and achieve the lifestyle that suits your desires as they relate to your mind, body and soul. For example:

• Your Mind – the way you think about your life, career, relationships, and purpose
• Your Body – the choices you make relative to exercising and eating better
• Your Soul – the way you feel and believe about your whole being

Is a lifestyle makeover something I could do myself or do I need the help of a lifestyle coach or personal trainer?
A lifestyle or fitness coach can propel you forward beyond the point of uncertainty or the point where you tend to get stuck. If you want to implement healthier lifestyle habits, but don’t know where to start, a fitness coach may be your best option. A coach will help you figure out a strategy for developing, implementing and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. Your coach will design a program (how to eat healthier and how to incorporate fitness activities into your daily routine) that suits your lifestyle and allows you to make positive behavioral changes. His/her role can be expanded to include adjusting your program when the roadblocks and detours of life affect your progress.

You write about choice, faith, determination, and perseverance playing an important role in living a healthy life? Please explain.
Knowing that poor lifestyle choices will eventually evolve into health concerns like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, it’s important that women realize the one thing they have to their advantage is the power of choice. Taking responsibility for your actions and learning that faith, determination, and perseverance are necessary for rearranging your priorities and embracing healthier habits.

What are three of the biggest challenges that your female clients face when trying to make healthy lifestyle changes? What’s your advice for overcoming those challenges?
The “Biggest Challenges” are:

1. Challenge One – Balancing obligations, ambitions, and values surrounding their faith, family, career, finances, and relationships;
2. Challenge Two – Eating the right foods, prepared the right way, in the right quantity, and at the right time; and
3. Challenge Three – Finding or blocking out time to exercise (time management).

My advice to women is to make their health and fitness a priority. Evaluate all the things vying for your attention, weed out those things that add no value, prioritize those things that are essential (faith, health, family, etc.), and explore your options for making small, healthy changes. For example, if you’re a breakfast skipper, try to incorporate breakfast into your daily morning routine. That’s a small change that could easily include a slice of whole grain toast, a piece of fruit, and a low-fat dairy product.

The one thing you have to your advantage is the power of choice. You choose whether you eat breakfast or not. You choose whether you’ll exercise for 30 minutes, three to five times a week. You choose whether you’ll eat an orange or a slice of pie. The power of choice is yours.

Bridgette Collins’ new book, Destined to Live Healthier: Mind, Body and Soul – www.destinedtolivehealthier.com, will be available the end of August 2008.

The study, commissioned by Northwestern Mutual in partnership with LLuminari, a network of women’s health experts, found that women who take control of their finances are healthier and happier than women who don’t.

Women who proactively manage their finances are significantly more likely to report that they are happy, confident, hopeful and in excellent to very good health. They’re also are less likely to report feeling worried, regretful, conflicted, disappointed and depressed.

According to the study, nearly three-quarters of women place a high importance on financial security, compared to 62% of men, but only 14% of women report feeling financially prepared, and are less satisfied than men with the progress they’re making toward meeting their financial goals.

The study also identified the financial habits of women who feel the most financially secure and the least stressed. The seven habits are:

1. Have a financial plan
2. Have short-term and long-term financial goals
3. Take active steps to achieve your financial goals
4. Take steps to protect your family from financial misfortune
5. Pay off credit cards every month and have good credit standing
6. Spend within your budgets
7. Work with a financial professional.

For more information about the study and a quiz on healthy financial habits: www.sevenfinancialhabits.com

Do you have financial habits that add to your stress or make life easier? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section below. Best comment this month wins a free book.

Michelle Obama, the wife of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, has a career of her own. A Harvard law school graduate and vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Michelle plans to remain “mom-in-chief” to her two daughters should the family make it to the White House.

Often referred to as “the closer”—Michelle, 44, has a way of connecting with audiences that can turn skeptics into believers. But how does she squeeze in a workout or quiet time between campaigning? Well, that’s the question many have been asking. Every woman needs time for herself and her health, so I culled the web for Michelle Obama’s answers on how she stays healthy, finds balance and stays grounded amidst the whirlwind campaign season.

On Her Personal Health Philosophy
“I talk a lot on the campaign trail about the importance of mental, physical and spiritual health. We as women have a lot on our plates - we’re always juggling. Every woman I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, is struggling every day to keep her head above water. We’ve been told we can have it all, but lose ourselves in the process. We need to put ourselves higher on our own to do lists. I know that’s hard for so many, so we also need to ensure we give women and families the resources they need to not only survive, but thrive.” WebMD, February 2008

On Setting Priorities
“My first job in all honesty is going to continue to be mom-in-chief,” Michelle Obama said in the September edition of Ebony magazine, hitting the newsstands on August 12. “Making sure that in this transition, which will be even more of a transition for the girls… that they are settled and that they know they will continue to be the center of our universe.” In the interview, Michelle talks about work-life balance, being married to Barack Obama, her workout routine, and the fashion sense that landed her on the top of Vanity Fair’s best-dressed list.

On Working Out
Momlogic asked Michelle Obama about her toned arms and workout routine. “I go to the gym three times a week — as often as I can, really. I work with a fabulous trainer for about an hour each session. We do a lot of cardio and weight training. For me, exercise is more than just physical — it’s therapeutic.”

On Finding Help and Support
Speaking to a group of Women for Obama in Chicago, Michelle Obama spoke about the demands of motherhood. “I joke about our challenges. But Barack and I know that we are lucky. We are some of the lucky ones because we have resources and support to help us get through. And I am particularly lucky because I have my mom. This is the woman who keeps me grounded, who stays at home with my girls and make sure that they’re okay.”

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On Relaxing and Having Fun
“We have just some of the most wonderful times when we visit Barack’s grandmother in Hawaii. Those are always wonderful times, warm weather, a time to be together and laugh, when everybody’s relaxed, no schedules, no nothing, just a lot of good fun together,” she said in a February U.S. News and World Reports interview.

On Black Women’s Health
In a July interview with the St. Louis American, Michelle Obama touched on black women’s increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and stroke. “Usually, we as black women deal with our issues when they are at a crisis point. So we need to move beyond that way of thinking about our health. But you can’t do it, if you don’t have access to health care.”

image: Getty Images