“St. Patty’s Luck of the Irish”

With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, you will hear references to the “luck of the Irish.” Edward T. O’Donnell, an associate professor of history at Holy Cross College and author of 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About Irish American History, attributes this phrase to the success of many Irish and Irish-American minors. “Over time, this association of the Irish with mining fortunes led to the expression ‘luck of the Irish.’”

Unfortunately, luck is practically non-existent when it comes to getting your affairs in order. As humorist R.E. Shay said, “Depend on the rabbit’s foot if you will, but remember it didn’t work for the rabbit.“ Nobody will luck into life insurance. Wills or trusts don’t luckily appear in your death folder. Doctors and loved ones don’t just luckily know your healthcare wishes when you’re incapacitated.

The only time luck may come into play is regarding the timing and circumstances of your death. “It was unlucky that he was going through that intersection when the drunk driver ran the red light.” Or… “She was lucky that the doctor noticed that lump during her annual physical.”

It’s often said that end-of-life planning is a labor of love, with an emphasis on “labor.” Creating a solid plan is not something that can be done in an hour. It will take time, self-reflection, conversations with loved ones, and meetings with professionals. The love part will come when you can tell your family that you’ve performed the labor. They may not know in the moment how much time, energy, and money you’ve saved them, but after you’re gone, they’ll sing praises for your forethought.