A mendicant is a person who takes an oath to serve others and is willing to undergo poverty and obedience to a higher calling. I often feel like a mendicant in my law practice because of the similarities of my biography.
Who is a Real Mendicant
The Franciscan monks took a vow of poverty in order to spend all their time and energy serving society. In fact, the word mendicant comes from the Latin word for begging. The asceticism they practiced by spurning mainstream ideals in the pursuit of a more disciplined and meaningful life resonates with me.
My Biography Possesses Some Similarities
As a lawyer, I charge fees for my services so I don’t pretend that I live a life of intentional poverty. However, I give lots of free advice, whether in-person or by phone, when there is no profit involved and I just want to help someone who is desperate for assistance. Someone who knows me well said that I have a strong desire to help others and that I have a heart of compassion. I agree because I feel the need to make a difference in the world.
Beginning with my Masters degree in Asian Studies, I built an international career spanning more than a dozen countries. I saw first-hand how much families suffered when the life they worked hard to build could be taken away in a moment. Sometimes by natural disaster, sometimes by war, sometimes by politics, and sometimes simply by lack of planning. It became very important to me to help others protect what they own. It began my higher calling to apply my knowledge, heart, and values to the area of law called estate planning.
Why Estate Planning Anchors my Biography
I grew up in Texas with strong family values and faith values. After I returned to the United States to start a new chapter of my life, I dealt with both my Grandfather’s and Mother’s health decline due to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. My family and I had to navigate the complexities of wrapping up not just an estate, but also the life of a loved one.
Through it all, I realized I understood the values behind estate planning from my personal experiences. I also realized I had the skills to assist others to navigate this complex and often stressful area of law.
Follow Your Passion
I never apologize for following my passions, and hopefully you don’t either. Once, I followed a passion of mine to study winemaking and viticulture in Walla Walla. I eventually established and operated my own micro-winery in my garage. Truly a “garagiste” but I produced a commercial wine that I was proud of.
After that season of my life, I recognized that I wanted to take everything I learned from my life and serve a new clientele. We all have “estates.” Your estate is the sum total of all you accumulate through your hard work. It is a terrible risk not to protect your passion and your estate. I want to help, because I take time to ensure that everyone who depends upon me is set up in the best way possible. With me, you will think through every risk on the path to the reward you want.
In Closing
I am a mendicant attorney because I entered estate planning to help society and help regular people. It would be an honor to help you too.