A Small Token With a Big Message KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS
that these small tokens might make other people feel better, too.
Maybe take the kids for a trek to a nearby park or beach.
Megan’s friend, one of the first to pick up a rock Megan had left behind, sent her an encouraging message after finding it: “If you did drop this rock, you made my day.” Since then, Megan has inspired others with randomly placed messages of kindness. She finds a rock, paints a kind message on it, and leaves it on the beach for others to find. And the idea has spread. As the project has grown, so have people’s stories about finding kindness rocks. When people find a kindness rock, they get a boost to their day, but they also feel inspired to pay the kindness forward.
Once you have your rocks, use nontoxic paint or spray paint to color them. Use bright colors so that others can spot them. After the paint has dried, use paint pens to write your messages on the rocks. These can be as simple as one word or as big as an inspiring quote or verse. After you’ve written your message, use a clear, nontoxic sealant to protect your artwork so it will be there when others find it. Find an outdoor space to leave your rock — maybe even in the original spot you found it. In a world that often seems dark, your message of kindness will serve as a beacon of hope for others. “One moment can change a day, one day can change a life, and one life can change the world.” –Gautama Buddha and long afterward. While tax planning is a common reason to create a trust, family planning, asset preservation, and protection from creditors are among the many reasons people create trusts. Trusts also provide protection for family members who may be unaccustomed to dealing with financial matters or for family members with special needs. They can offer certain protections in the event of divorce or other litigation, or they can help ensure funds are available for specific needs, such as education, health care, or charitable interests. For most people, the primary objective in establishing a trust is to help ensure that assets are protected, managed, and distributed in accordance with their wishes when they are no longer able to do so themselves due to incapacity or death.
H ave you ever had one of those days when nothing seems to go right? You wake up late, you can’t find your keys, the kids aren’t ready, and the day continues to unfold in a negative fog. Those difficult days are the reason Megan Murphy started the Kindness Rocks Project. After her parents passed away, she found comfort in finding heart-shaped rocks and sea glass on the beach. She realized
How to Make Your Own Kindness Rocks
If you want to spread kindness, start with a few smooth 3- to 5-inch rocks. Part of the adventure is in finding the rocks, so take the time to explore outside to find them.
WHEN AWILL IS NOT ENOUGH Why Trusts Are Critical to Your Legacy
A will is an important estate-planning tool that serves many families well, but it can lack certain protections found in a trust. For one, a trust can be set up to include an “incapacity clause.” This clause states who should manage your affairs in the event that you are unable to. A will defines who receives assets outright, while a trust can designate how and over what time period you want to share assets with heirs. For example, a specific age can be specified as to when the assets are dispersed. These features are critical when beneficiaries are minors or if you want specific parameters on the amount of assets adult heirs may access over a given time period. Trusts can also be used to help ensure proper management of your assets during your lifetime.
As long as you’re alive, you are the trustee of your trust. You’re free to manage the property or assets in your trust in the manner you choose. A trust created and funded during your life is generally called a “living” or “revocable” trust. Should you be incapacitated, a trust can help ensure that your needs continue to be met and that your finances are kept in good order for your benefit. Upon your death, a trust becomes “irrevocable,” and your assets are managed and distributed by your trustee in accordance with your instructions throughout the trust’s existence. Trusts can provide comfort in knowing that you have a plan in place to provide for the management of family assets and to direct their use in accordance with your wishes during your lifetime —
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