Which got me thinking about my legacy. I will probably never hold a public office. Most people outside of my small group of friends will never hear of me or know what I have done. I will not be mourned for days by a nation with flags at half staff and 24-hour coverage of my funeral. So what is my legacy? For what will I be remembered?
Hopefully, this is a question with which we all struggle. We think of this question at times when making major decisions such as whether or not we should get the second house or save the money for our children. But rarely does this question come up when we are making daily decisions. How we live day-to-day doesn't seem like part of our legacy. I think it is the biggest part of our legacy though. I hope to leave behind financial security for my children and a tidy list of assets for them to enjoy. But what I really want to them to have from me after I have died is a strong sense of who they are, what is important to them and an appreciation for the special people in their lives. To do that, they need to see me do that. For me to do that, I need to live each day that way. Therefore, remembering my legacy when making daily decisions is very important.
I don't live with a morbid attitude. I do not agonize over my bequest day and night. But I remember that what I do and how I act will affect my children. They are my legacy.
