Let’s talk about the one topic no one wants to bring up: the future. No, not flying cars or cryogenic freezers—I mean your future. Paperwork. Decisions. The messy stuff that nobody wants to touch because we’re “too old” or “too tired” or “it’s too late.”

Here’s the truth: if you’re old enough to say it’s too late to plan, you’re not dead yet—which means it isn’t.

I’ve lost count of how many folks I’ve known who didn’t leave a will. No directive. No plan. One guy left four kids fighting over his car, his dog, and whether or not he wanted to be cremated. Guess who got stuck cleaning up the chaos? Not him. He was gone. It was everyone else, picking up the pieces.

Making a medical directive, a simple will, or even just writing down your wishes on one sheet of paper and sticking it on the fridge—that’s not depressing. That’s being responsible. It’s a gift to the people you’ll leave behind.

And let’s not forget: planning isn’t just for death. It’s for living. Want to age at home instead of in a facility? Say so. Want to make sure your niece doesn’t sell your house out from under you while you’re in rehab? Write it down. Want to donate your eyes, or not? Decide now.

You don’t have to go full estate attorney. There are online templates. There are community services that help for free. Ask your doctor for a healthcare proxy form—they’ll hand it to you with a pen.

I’m not saying you need to predict everything. But when the time comes—and it will come—you want to be the person who left instructions, not the one who left a mess.

You’re not too old. You’re just in time.