What is your legacy?
A legacy is what you leave behind when you are not there. It doesn’t always mean after you pass away. It might mean when you move on from a place, time in your life or situation. We’ve all heard the saying to “leave things better than you found them.” That’s your legacy. Often the topic of legacy focuses on finances, but it doesn’t have to just be about money.
Ways to create a legacy
1. Teach and inspire
You’ve amassed a lifetime of knowledge, skills and abilities that you can teach to others. Not only are you teaching skills, but you’re also teaching values and setting an example through your actions.
2. Give back
Find a cause that you’re passionate about and donate your time and/or funds to that cause. Do good in the world by supporting causes that help make the world a better place and that care for others with love and compassion. Check out Volunteer Match for local and virtual opportunities.
3. Tell your story
Sharing your story is a great way to leave a legacy. You don’t have to be “famous” for your story to have meaning. It’s meaningful because you’re in it.
Last year, my children gave me a wonderful gift for my birthday. It was an opportunity to create a book, telling my own story. Through the company Storyworth, I was sent a new question each week (questions that my son selected). A lot of the questions were things I hadn’t thought about in years. Questions like:
· How did you get your first job?
· What were your parents like when you were growing up?
· What are some of your family traditions?
I looked forward to answering each question and sharing my story. I was even able to upload photos that related to that week’s question, so that was also a walk down memory lane as I looked through old photo albums. At the end of the period, Storyworth compiled my answers into my own book. Not only was it a fun experience, but it was also a way for me to share my life history with my family.
Your story is:
· Unique – no one in the word has the exact same experiences as you
· A legacy – for your loved ones
· A guide – for someone else who is having a similar experience
“Tell the story of the mountain you climbed. Your words could become a page in someone else’s survival guide.”
– Morgan Harper Nichols
That’s the reason I started Embracing Golden, to share my stories in hopes that they help others. It’s now a part of my legacy.
What ways are you creating your legacy and making the world a better place? Share in the comments.