I’m a big fan of Don Miller, founder of StoryBrand. In one of his personal vision workshops, he recommends writing your own eulogy, filled with all the things for which you hope others will remember you. He further recommends reading it every day as part of your morning routine as a way of keeping the legacy you wish to leave active in the choices and decisions you’re making throughout your daily routine. It has been quite a sobering exercise for me.
I’ve recognized a startling awareness through this work. Legacy isn’t something we build someday. It’s something we’re building right now through everyday moments and decisions such as how we listen, how we lead, what we say, the choices we make, how we spend our time, what we stand for, and how we treat people every single day.
Every day we do things that people will remember and retell in the form of stories about us. They will likely forget the accomplishments for which we are working so hard to secure. They will likely underscore our titles and awards and ignore how much money we made. What they will remember are the same things we remember about the important people in our life: how we made them feel—how we encouraged them; the times we were truly present with them; the length of our hugs; the amount of laughter, hope, and joy we served up; and the moments we celebrated them.
What if we could shape these experiences and create the memories we want people to remember about us? What if we didn’t leave our legacy to chance but rather were intentional about how we showed up for others and ourselves?
I find these questions definitely worth reflecting upon. I find they influence my choices throughout my day and week and become a positive influence on how I spend my time.
This week, give some thought to the legacy you are building and leaving for yourself. I’m positive it won’t be in the money we spend or the time we invest at work but much more in the solid presence, love, and understanding we bring to our interactions with family, friends, colleagues, and clients.
Here’s to leaving a legacy of love, filled with all the things that truly matter.
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
~ Shannon Alder
