When Wills Get Weird FINAL WISHES THAT RAISED EYEBROWS
Money and property are typically the first things that come to mind when we think about a will. And while most are straightforward, some final wishes leave behind a story that’s stranger than fiction. Looking at some of the oddest inheritances ever recorded reveals more personality than practicality. Take Blackie the cat. When British antique dealer Ben Rea passed away, his family was probably more than disappointed to learn that he had left his entire fortune (nearly £7 million) to his beloved pet. That decision made headlines everywhere and turned Blackie into the richest cat in the world. Then there’s the story of John Bowman from Vermont. He believed in reincarnation and was convinced he and his family would return in another life. Not wanting to come back from the dead without the luxuries he was used to, Bowman set up a trust to keep his mansion staffed and ready for his family’s arrival. For decades, mansion staff prepared meals and kept up the house in case the
Bowmans walked through the door. The ritual continued for over 70 years before the funds finally ran out.
Canada gave us the “Great Stork Derby.” In 1926, an attorney named Charles Vance Millar launched a bizarre contest by leaving money to the Toronto woman who had the most children in the decade following his death. The result was a citywide baby boom and years of courtroom battles as families fought over the inheritance. Some wills came with mystery. One wealthy businessman left a coded message among his papers that pointed to buried riches. His heirs initially thought it was a joke, but after looking into it, they uncovered buried treasure worth millions. Of course, these stories are far from the norm. Most wills won’t fund banquets for the dead, start a baby boom, or turn a cat into a millionaire. Still, these strange requests show that estate planning is a personal process, and final wishes aren’t always about money.
PRACTICING GRATITUDE NOT JUST EMPTY THANKS
When finding ways to transform your life into one of resoluteness, it may seem odd to start with a practice of gratitude. Too often, we treat gratitude with an attitude of forcing ourselves to “think positive” when we feel anything but. Gratitude is not empty thanks or blind optimism. Gratitude begins with an honest look at your life and allowing yourself to be in awe of the good and beautiful pieces. To discover what you can be, you must first see yourself as you are. Setting a positive mentality begins with acknowledging the parts of your life that bring you joy. You may have been told to “think positive” or “have a positive mindset” when in a hard situation, and perhaps the feeling of being disregarded hit you in the chest. In this specific iteration, having a positive mindset is not about ignoring the negative; rather, it is about opening your mind to see what is good and keeps you moving forward in the circumstances you find yourself in.
You may have gratitude practices that are meaningful, but consider these options as practices for this month. 1. 5-Minute Journaling: Sit somewhere comfortable, grab either your phone or a pen and notepad, notebook, or scrap paper, and set a timer. For five minutes, ignore distractions and write about what you’re grateful for. You can write stories, paragraphs, bullet lists, or make doodles, but practice making your thoughts tangible. 2. Gratitude Walks : These walks can be of any length (even five minutes gives you a chance to recenter). The goal is to go outside and either find things on your walk that spark gratitude or reflect on the good in your life. 3. Sharing Gratitude : This is a simple way to integrate gratitude into your life and community. Start the habit of sharing one thing you’re grateful for with a person you talk to every day. If it feels
awkward to start, try doing it at a meal that you share with someone or call a loved one. Invite them to participate and then be sure to listen without assuming you know what they are saying. In January, I encourage you to practice gratitude and discover new meaning in yourself. You can consider practicing these exercises daily, weekly, or whenever you work on a task, like washing dishes, folding laundry, or cooking dinner. Whatever rhythms you choose, I hope you discover new joys and ground yourself in the good parts of your life.
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