The Black Book

“Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” ~ Sun Tzu, The Art of War

The long rains are here finally and with them, cold nights, mosquitoes, wet days and lots of time spent indoors. As an introvert, it’s the perfect time of year for me, but not without lots of preparation.

This past week was ‘spring cleaning No.1’ of the year week. As the dusty season makes room for crispy cool air, it was time to wash the curtains, dust out all the surfaces that tend to collect dust too fast and change the light bedding of the hot season to heavier ones that can withstand the coming cold. I had a bit more planning to do, though.

My indoor time does not just happen – it has to be planned. So there were reading and craft lists to do and organize supplies. A list of podcasts to catch up on because craft time is also learning time. And on one of those podcasts, I got to hear about a concept that I’ve never really given deep thought to.

The Black Book of my life.

The podcast was about having a plan, then a backup plan to your plan A or B. Because life happens. Our best laid out plans can go up in smoke in an instant because of mechanical failure, other people’s malicious actions, natural disaster or any number of tricks up Murphy’s sleeve! So, once you plan, have a backup plan, just in case - be this insurance, cloud storage, an emergency fund, power of attorney . . . whatever you consider a backup for whichever of your plans.

The black book is a kind of backup plan for your life. As it was explained, it is a notebook that has all your important information laid out and updated just in case someone you love has to take over the running of your life due to incapacity or death. As it was put, “you don’t want your loved ones to have to deal with figuring out your life while trying to grieve for you at the same time”.

Some of the information that would go into such a book would include your passwords, your bank details, your will, important information or tasks you handle and how those could be handled seamlessly by others in your absence. For example, mothers hold a ton of information regarding the family from the children’s medical records, the family’s bills and financial information and so on. Piecing together such information from scratch in her absence may prove to be a nightmare. Hence the importance of having a backup plan for your existence.

I must admit, it is a task that is not pleasant. We’d rather not think about the eventuality of our demise, but the reality is that no one gets out of this life alive. My plan A is to take care of my well being using a variety of tools to ensure that I live healthy for as long as I can. However, that does not guarantee that I will actually live to as long as I’d like. And so I must think about who would be tasked with wrapping up my life in the event I left. What would that task be like?

Daunting question. . . for starters, they’d have to find a new home for over 600 books! Then sort out the tools and supplies for at least 5 different crafts, go through my herbs and spices collections. . .sigh! I’m already hating the task ugh!

So I now have a new headache. I need to compile a notebook that succinctly speaks to who I am, what I have, and what my disposal instructions are. I also need to de-clutter my life and organize my spaces with more than just myself in mind. I’d then have to appoint and inform at least 2 people of my plan and direct them to where they’d find that information.

All in the interest of love. Loving me, loving my family. Tough task ahead but I might as well get it done and live at peace, knowing that my future is organized. Ever thought about this before? Leave a comment, I’d love to hear any ideas you may have on how to go about it, if you’ve already done it.  

“The only way to get over a death is by seeing it as a life completed, instead of a life interrupted.” ~ Anonymous