The older we become, the more we start to think about what we leave behind and how we will be remembered. A legacy can include tangible items or financial bequests. But most of us also want others to remember us as we really were. We would like something more personal that will leave an impact on those who loved us most.
What type of legacy would you like to leave?
Family Albums
Photo albums and scrapbooks with information on ancestors and pictures of relatives. Some of whom are from generations long before, are a way to ensure that family is always remembered. Documents such as birth or marriage certificates can be included. Albums like this can be added to over the years by the next generation.
Possessions
Many of us have family heirlooms left to us from a grandmother or other relative. We also have prized possessions of our own that mean a lot to us and to our children. Jewellery, furniture, books; all types of items that are meaningful for one reason or another can be passed on for others to enjoy and remember us by.
Written Memoirs
As we age, our interest in family history grows and one thing you can leave your family are your memories. Memories of your own from growing up and memories made together with your children and friends. Family stories can be passed down through the generations and this is a wonderful way to leave a legacy for future generations.
There are many ways we can leave memories for our children and those who come after us. Items we have created by painting, knitting, drawing; photographs or videos, anything we have created. A piece of music we wrote or played, a poem that was written by us. All of these personal legacies are talked about by future generations. They tell them something about the way we lived and our personalities.
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
