Leave a Legacy

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you”

                                                                                                            Shannon L. Alder

This evening I walked into my bedroom and saw my daughter by my bedside reading a book intently. She was reading the cook book that my grandma published before she passed away at age 90. For a minute I didn’t think anything of it, until I had a bit of a light bulb moment. My grandma had left a legacy that even her great-grand daughter was benefitting from. In the introduction, my grandmother’s words are as follows.

“This cook book is the realization of a dream I have had for many years……I have always wanted to pass on this experience and knowledge to young modern day home makers and wives who may not have been privileged to grow up around the cooking pot and also, to many foreigners who have been guests in our home curious to know how our dishes were made”

According to Benjamin Franklin “nothing is certain except death and taxes”. We are all passing through this world and it is important to remember that we must leave foot prints behind for generations to come and for the world at large. My grandma may never have envisioned that her great granddaughter would one day benefit from her decision to follow her dreams. Ask yourself this important question. What would you like to be remembered for?

What is a legacy?

According to wikitheca, a legacy is defined as something an individual leaves behind to be remembered by or part of a person that lives on after they have passed away.

Is leaving a legacy a financial goal?

Leaving a legacy is also considered a financial goal. In financial terms leaving a legacy is defined as an amount of money or property left to someone in a will. Typically, with regards to leaving a legacy, financial planners would recommend that you write a will and a revocable trust. For example, if my grandmother’s book was commercialized, generations to come would be receiving proceeds from sales of the books or royalties, i.e. if my grandmother stated it in her will.

Even though financial planners/advisors recommend that you write a will and a revocable trust, leaving a legacy is more than what you put in a will or revocable trust. I read an article in Forbes titled 4 smart ways to leave a legacy. In the article the writer said “your legacy is about far more than material things….focus on passing down your values not money”.

The writer also adds “most of what we leave our children and grandchildren are memories – of who we are and what mattered to us. We provide this legacy by being with our loved ones and through our relationships”.

It doesn’t matter how old or young you are. We all don’t know the time or hour that we would have to leave this world. All we would have left is the legacy we have left behind. As you begin to think about leaving a legacy, think and reflect on the trail you are currently leaving as you walk on the shores of life. According to Wikiethica, Martin Luther King left a legacy of positive and self-less actions. Hitler left a legacy of negativity and destruction. What legacy are you leaving behind? What legacy would you like to leave behind. My grandma, amongst other things, left behind a legacy of her recipes so that all our generations to come can benefit from them. She also left a legacy of following your dreams and making them a reality no matter how old you are. Every time I pick up that cook book or every time I cook a meal with one of the recipes, I would remember my grandmother.

Maya Angelou, the great poet, author, activist, singer, dancer who died recently has left a great legacy. Her wise words would continue to inspire, teach and educate many generations to come.

I would like to end this article with this quote, “Everyone leaves behind a legacy after they die, but only few people leave behind a legacy worth talking about.” Wikiethica