Your Legacy

A friend of mine passed away at the beginning of the summer. A friend. A mom. A prominent member of our community.

I watched social media flood with heartbreak from her family and friends and lots of pictures, stories, and memories of how she touched lives and made the world a better place.

At her wake and funeral, her memories were very much alive. And how her family spoke of her and remembered her really stuck with me. It made me ask myself, what will my legacy be when I pass? How will I be spoken about and remembered?

Although this is a sensitive and difficult topic to cover, I think it is important to take inventory of how we live our lives while we are alive so that when we depart this earth, we leave a deep imprint on the hearts of those we’ve left behind.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ―  Maya Angelou

Be there for people in the good and in the bad times. If someone needs to talk to you for hours on the phone because they are going through something, listen to them, and they will remember that you made them feel important.

If someone needs you to pick up groceries or carpool their children because they aren’t feeling well, be there for them, and they will remember that they were able to count on you.

If your kids want you to read to them or play a game with them, even if you are tired, do it. They will remember that you were present.

It’s not about things. No one will remember you and miss you because you had the most expensive car or home or went on shopping sprees. They will remember your giving, selfless, empathetic, kind spirit, how you showed up in life, how you helped others, how you made an impact, and especially how you made them feel.

Many people think that a legacy is something that happens solely after you die. But the truth is that legacies are formed while you are alive. So, what will yours be?