What legacy are you leaving behind?

We all get one life to live, and everyone wants to make the most of it. If we’re lucky, we have families and watch them grow, if not, we make memories anyway…Throughout history, we have been conditioned to look out for ourselves, or no one else will. But if we’re consumed with pursuing only our interests, what legacy will we create? What is it that you want your family, your community and the world to be left with?

A legacy isn’t only about leaving what you earned but also what you learned. It’s not about possessions, wealth or even just about DNA, it’s about touching other people’s lives. Remember, every interaction you have makes an impression. A simple good deed will inspire the actions of others, and others in turn; each of us shape the other in ways nobody could ever fully comprehend.

The Six-Word Memoir is a way of naming your mission in life. Staring at a blank page can be daunting, but choosing six words to define your mission and what you want your life to stand for may not be so hard and may even be energising and stimulating. Thinking of six poignant words that can define the footprint you want to leave in your life’s path is a great start to leaving your legacy

When Robin Williams died, there was an outpouring of tributes. One of the greatest was when Steve Martin called him “a mensch.” It’s safe to say that everyone considered Robin Williams not only to be a very funny man but also one of the kindest. Calling him a mensch is the greatest eulogy because a mensch is a person who is decent and honorable, a person of high integrity who has genuine caring for his fellow man. A mensch always looks for an opportunity to do good in life, to be of help to others and to give without regard for anything in return. A mensch doesn’t cut corners in their relationships with people. You always feel safe in the presence of a mensch because you instinctively know that they will not deceive you, undermine you or diminish you in any way. Being called a mensch is the ultimate compliment you can receive, and you’ll have left your greatest legacy for anyone who has come in contact with you if you live like one.

To start purposefully creating your legacy, Lisa Haisha, Host of The Legacy Series, suggests you think about the following three questions. She says, “Answer them honestly to create a legacy that matters and endures.

1) Twenty-five years after my death, what, if anything, will those beyond my family remember me for?
2) If I had to give everything I own to a cause (not a person), what cause would that cause be?
3) If I could snap my fingers and acquire an experience or talent, it would be ___________ because ___________ .

While on the surface these questions may sound simple, when it comes time to answer them you’ll realise that each question requires much thought. In fact, most people have to think about the questions for days before really knowing the answers.”

They say it’s never too soon or too late to start your legacy.

So tell us, what legacy will you be leaving behind?