New Year’s Resolutions for 2019

Beyond the Gym: 5 Practical New Year’s Resolutions for Peace of Mind

At this time last year, we shared a list of resolutions specifically designed for the grieving—a guide to helping those who had lost someone close navigate the difficult first year without them. We stand by that advice and encourage anyone currently walking the path of grief to read it.

However, as we look toward a fresh year, we want to broaden our scope. While many people in Toronto and Richmond Hill focus on gym memberships or diet plans, there are more profound resolutions that can secure your legacy and provide immense relief to your family. This year, we propose a list of practical, responsible resolutions that every adult should consider.

1. Pre-Plan Your Funeral Arrangements

While resolving to plan your own funeral might sound grim to some, it is actually one of the most practical and loving decisions you can make. It transforms a future burden into a present-day gift for your family.

If you are healthy and of sound mind, now is the perfect time to make these decisions. Whether you reside in Stouffville, Aurora, or anywhere in the GTA, pre-planning offers two distinct benefits:

• Financial Security: By pre-arranging, you can often lock in today's prices for funeral services and products, protecting your estate from future inflation.
• Emotional Relief: When the time comes, your grieving family will not be forced to make dozens of difficult, rapid-fire decisions while in a state of shock. They will know exactly what you wanted—whether that is a traditional burial or cremation services.

Chapel Ridge Funeral Home helps families across Markham and Scarborough document their wishes clearly, ensuring that when the time comes, the focus can remain on healing rather than logistics.

2. Write or Update Your Will

Do you have a valid will? If the answer is yes, ask yourself: when was the last time you reviewed it? Life changes quickly. Marriages, divorces, the birth of grandchildren, or the purchase of property in Thornhill or North York can all impact the relevance of your current document.

The Risk of Intestacy in Ontario

If you do not have a will, it is vital that you contact a lawyer to have one drawn up immediately. Dying without a will (known as dying "intestate") in Ontario means the government decides how your estate is handled. This process is slow, expensive, and impersonal.

Your assets will be divided according to the Succession Law Reform Act , not necessarily according to your wishes. To ensure you have the final say on what happens to your estate—and to ensure your chosen executor has the authority to arrange your funeral details —making a will should be at the top of your resolution list.

3. Have the "Talk" About Organ Donation

This is another resolution that requires facing mortality, but it is a conversation that saves lives. In Ontario, there are over 1,500 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. One donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of 75 others through tissue donation.

You can register your consent at beadonor.ca. It takes only two minutes, but the impact is everlasting.

Dispelling the Funeral Myth

A common misconception we hear from families in Richmond Hill and Toronto is that organ donation interferes with funeral plans. This is false. According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network, organ donation typically does not delay funeral arrangements, and an open casket service is still completely possible if that is your wish.

Regardless of whether you choose to be a donor or not, the bottom line is communication. You must tell your loved ones your wishes. If they are unaware of your registration, they may feel confused during a crisis. If you are against donation, explaining your reasoning now prevents questions later.

4. Organize Your Digital Legacy

In our modern age, this is a new but necessary resolution. Residents across the GTA, from Scarborough to Aurora, live significant portions of their lives online. What happens to your social media accounts, online banking, and cloud storage when you are gone?

Take time this year to organize a "Digital Vault." This should include:

• A list of passwords and accounts (stored securely, perhaps with your will).
• Instructions on whether you want your social media profiles memorialized or deleted.
• Access to digital photo libraries so precious memories aren't locked away forever.

5. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

It might sound "on the nose" coming from a funeral home, but we genuinely want our neighbors in Markham and Stouffville to live long, vibrant lives. Your time on earth is precious.

With the aging population in York Region growing, taking care of your health is key to maintaining independence. This might mean quitting smoking, scheduling those overdue check-ups, eating more vegetables, or simply walking more often in our beautiful local parks. There are many things in life out of your control; why not improve the aspects you can manage?

Start the Year with Clarity

Taking care of these administrative tasks may not feel as exciting as planning a vacation, but the peace of mind they provide is unmatched. You are effectively looking after your family's future well-being.

If you have any questions about pre-planning your funeral, or if you need advice on how to start these sensitive conversations with your loved ones, please contact us today . The team at Chapel Ridge Funeral Home and Cremation Centre is here to help you check these important items off your list.

Happy New Year!