How Do You Want To Be Remembered? Six Steps To Creating A Great Legacy!

As I shoveled the driveway I marveled at the daffodil leaves peeking out from under the snow and the buds on the trees. Although our driveway turned into a sheet of ice that night, warmer temperatures will soon be here and winter will be nothing more than a memory. It is after all the middle of March, and spring officially arrives next week, as does my daughter’s fortieth birthday! Yikes! It seems like only yesterday she was six, the same age as my granddaughter.
 
Every so often I forget, and wonder who the stranger in the mirror is. That old lady couldn’t possibly be me! And then there are times, like Tuesday, where I’m reminded that we’re like the snow, only here for a short time, soon to become a memory. Have you ever thought about when your gone, and how you’ll be remembered?
 
You may think that talking about leaving a legacy is morbid, but it really isn’t. It’s about hope, love and joy. If you take a few minutes to evaluate your life and think about how you want to be remembered and work on becoming "that person", you’re more likely to have a happy and fulfilled life. One without regrets!
 
I have a friend who has been unsettled about the current state of politics. She has decided to do something about it, and run for local office. I have another friend who has decided to use her years and expertise in building a business, to helping others get their business off the ground.  I’m so proud of these women for not accepting that being in your sixties is over the hill, or a time to go “quietly into the night”. These women are starting new careers and making a difference in the world! They are an inspiration to anyone aspiring to do something with their life, regardless of their age!
 
Some things to consider when evaluating your legacy:
 

1. Show love and compassion to yourself and others.
2. Help others. What is the point of working hard if you don’t help others? As they say, you can’t take it with you! Think about donating to a worthy cause or volunteering. Time is often much more valuable and powerful than money. It’s not only a gift to the recipient, it’s a gift to the giver as well.
3. Be persistent. Don’t give up when things get tough. Learn from your mistakes and keep going!
4. Live up to your values and have integrity. Don’t compromise your values!
5. Never stop growing and learning. Tony Robbins said that if you’re not growing you’re dying!
6. Set a good example. Just deciding to make a change in your life can inspire someone else. Maybe losing weight or starting a new vocation. Show your children and grandchildren that’s it’s never too late to do and be more!
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I don’t know about you, but I think the meaning of life is about love, enjoying what we do, to always do and be our best and to make a positive difference. I think we should strive to live up to our potential, and to make the world a better place. It doesn’t have to be on a grand scale. We aren’t all going to be like Mother Theresa or Mahatma Gandhi, but we can have a positive influence on someone, even it’s just one person!
 
If you don’t like your legacy so far, and you’re able to read this, you still have time to change it! Regardless of how old or how young you are, now is the time to start working on how you want to be remembered!