What you leave behind

“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” – Pericles

What a powerful reminder that quote is! When I read it I thought how it could be referring to trophies and worldly accomplishments we earn in this life like awards and titles and money etc. It could also be referring to the words engraved on our tombstones when we die someday. Both of those visuals are fairly powerful when you consider the message in that quote. While trophies and fancy words on our tombstone when we die seem nice, they are not the things that are not the things we leave behind…they are not our legacy.

We live our lives being so busy and doing so many things, but how often do we stop and think about whether the things we are working on will help us leave a legacy that goes beyond ourselves?  One idea someone suggested was that we schedule a little time each week to work on things that will result in leaving a legacy.

There are all kinds of ways to contribute to the legacy you leave behind. It can be something as simple as recording family recipes for future generations to enjoy, or gathering family histories of ancestors together for your posterity, or writing your own life history to pass on, or it can be bigger things like starting a foundation that does charitable service that can extend for years to come after you are gone, or donating money to help educate children in the future, or getting involved in an existing charity to help make an impact.

A legacy is all about doing things that will touch and benefit the lives of others for generations to come. What legacy you want to leave is a deeply personal decision but it is a decision you are never too young to start thinking about and deciding on. Then carve even just a few minutes each week to work on it so that over time it will grow and take on a life of its own.

Everything we do with each day of our life has an impact on others so never underestimate the fact that each interaction you have with someone may very well end up being a part of your legacy….so always be aware of what you are leaving behind.

Have a blessed day! And be sure to bless the life of someone else today…

~Amy Rees Anderson

1 Comment

  • Jane says:

    On my weekly accountability sheet I have 4 things I do each week to help or inspire or encourage others. I didn’t think about them as leaving a legacy, but I guess it could be something of a legacy. My motto is be real, be present, do good.

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