Or, A Brief Meditation on Human Nature, the Holidays, and Why “Later” Has Such Excellent Manners
Human beings are, by nature, reasonable creatures.
As such, we so frequently decide—quite rationally—that we will address serious matters at some future time when we are less busy, more rested, and possessed of better judgment than we are today.
This future version of ourselves is a marvel.
He is organized.
She returns phone calls.
They make thoughtful decisions without discomfort and never lose paperwork.
Unfortunately, this person does not exist.
And yet, we continue to rely on them—particularly when it comes to estate planning.
The Grand and Time-Honored Tradition of Putting Things Off
Procrastination is not a flaw. It is a tradition.
It has been passed down from generation to generation, likely with grand ceremony, though regrettably without documentation. If wills were written as faithfully as delays are practiced, probate courts would be ghost towns.
Estate planning is uniquely suited for postponement because it offends no one by waiting. It makes no noise. It does not leak, rattle, or emit smoke. It merely sits patiently, like a well-mannered guest who has overstayed their welcome but refuses to complain.
We do not ignore estate planning because we are irresponsible. We ignore it because we are optimists.
We believe tomorrow will be calmer.
We believe next year will be clearer.
We believe that future us will be grateful we waited.
Future us, it must be said, is often annoyed.
The Holidays: When Good Intentions Go to Feast
The holidays arrive each year with impeccable timing.
Just as we begin to think, “I really should get my affairs in order,” the calendar intervenes with pie, relatives, travel, and traditions that demand our full attention and emotional resilience.
This is not a bad thing.
The holidays are for reflection, connection, and the careful avoidance of controversial topics at the dinner table. No one has ever improved a family gathering by announcing, “After dessert, I’d like to discuss my mortality.”
So we do what sensible people do.
We postpone.
“After the holidays.”
“After the New Year.”
“When things slow down.”
This feels wise, mature, and deeply responsible.
It is also statistically speaking, how estate planning gets postponed for another year.
January: The Month That Sells False Hope at a Discount
January is the most dishonest month of the year.
It arrives dressed as a fresh start, waving a clipboard full of resolutions and promising cooperation. We trust it, despite a long history of betrayal.
January assures us:
- This is the year we will be organized
- This is the year we will follow through
- This is the year we will finally handle important matters
By February, January has vanished, leaving us alone with our inbox and a faint sense of disappointment.
Estate planning often meets its demise in January—not because people don’t care, but because January is built on intention rather than structure, and intention is a flimsy building material.
Stalling Is Reasonable—Until It Isn’t
There are good reasons to stall.
Estate planning requires decisions that feel permanent, conversations that feel awkward, and contemplation that feels unnecessary right up until the moment it becomes unavoidable.
Stalling allows us to:
- Think things through
- Avoid rash decisions
- Maintain emotional equilibrium
All of this is sensible.
The trouble begins when stalling becomes indefinite.
An unscheduled delay has no natural ending. It simply waits for the next excuse, which life is always happy to provide.
What Happens When “Later” Becomes “Too Late”
When estate planning is delayed long enough, it does not remain neutral. It becomes active in its absence.
Outdated plans do more harm than no plans at all.
No plans invite the state to make decisions you would not have made.
Families are left interpreting silence as intention.
None of this is dramatic. It is merely inconvenient, expensive, and exhausting—especially for the people you were hoping to protect.
This is not how anyone wants to be remembered.
A Confession from My Side of the Desk
Allow me a candid observation from the professional trenches.
In my world, nothing happens unless it is on the calendar.
Not because people are negligent.
Not because they are careless.
But because human beings are governed by schedules, not aspirations.
Clients who say, “We should do this,” mean it sincerely.
Clients who say, “We’ll call you,” believe it at the time.
Clients who actually do it are the ones who say, “Let’s set a date.”
Calendars are ruthless but fair. They do not care how good your intentions are. They only care whether you showed up.
The Quiet Power of Scheduling
There is something deeply comforting about a scheduled obligation.
Once it is on the calendar, the mind relaxes. The problem is no longer floating overhead, demanding attention. It has been assigned a time and place.
Scheduling estate planning does not require enthusiasm. It requires only honesty.
You do not need to feel ready.
You do not need to feel eager.
You only need to decide that it will, in fact, happen.
Why Planning for 2026 Is an Act of Wisdom
Planning—especially into a year like 2026—is not avoidance. It is a strategy.
It says:
- “I am not in crisis.”
- “I can make thoughtful decisions.”
- “I am not relying on chance.”
- It allows estate planning to occur under the best possible conditions: calm, deliberate, and unrushed. This is how good plans are made.
Tradition, Properly Understood
Tradition is not doing things the way they’ve always been done.
Tradition is preserving what matters while discarding what no longer serves.
Estate planning is not a rejection of tradition. It is an expression of it. It is how we care for the people who come after us without burdening them with unnecessary confusion.
It is, in its own quiet way, an act of kindness.
A Final, Modest Proposal (and a Call to Action)
So here is my modest proposal, offered in the spirit of the season.
Do not overhaul your life today.
Do not ruin the holidays with paperwork.
Do not rely on January’s false promises.Simply do this:
Put it on the calendar
Choose a date.
Schedule the meeting.
Make it real.Because in my world—and very likely in yours as well—things do not happen because they are important.
They happen because they are scheduled.
If you would like estate planning to be part of your 2026—not just a fond intention—then now is the moment to claim a spot on the calendar.
We’ll take care of the rest.
