How many people do you know surround themselves with things that do not matter in the long run and fail to take a longer view of their life’s Significance? Earlier this year my brother died.
He was not young, but neither was he old by todays, standards. He was 3 months short of his 76th birthday. I went down to Florida where he lived, for a memorial service a couple of weeks ago and his daughters were struggling with how to divest all the things he had accumulated.
Cork screws, glasses, the hundred plus cookbooks he had collected. Antiques from our mom, and quilts from our grandparents. It got me thinking about significance and things when you die.
A lot of what you own, like shirts, pants Jackets etc. will go to the Good Will or Salvation Army for sale to support their programs. The books will be given away along with the glasses and a lot of the cooking and other implements or end up being sold in an estate sale.
Soon there will be nothing left to tell the world that he existed, what were his dreams or what goals did he hope to achieve. It got me thinking about all of my stuff that I invested money or time into.
Will it be distributed to unknown people for 10 cents on the dollar? Will the fact that my life existed disappear in an estate sale? Will those that I interacted with still remember me weeks or months let alone years after I die?
I think of a saying that was passed around in one office I worked in. It started out by saying stick your hand in a bucket of water. Now pull it out. The hole that you see is the hole you will leave when you are gone.
Hopefully, I will be remembered by those around me as having made some part of the world better a better place. The question then becomes one of what is of significance to you and what legacy will you leave.
How will your passing be remembered? It is something you should ponder. Maybe your legacy is being a tutor to those who are struggling to get ahead. Maybe it is leading a crusade that helps the poor in your city.
Maybe, its creating a foundation to help some cause that is dear to you and your spouse. You don’t have to be rich or famous, legacies can be small things, maybe it is creating your families genealogy for future generations to see.
How about tutoring people, teaching children how to read, or sew, use your imagination and use your superpower to make the world a better place. Last, remember life is for living and enjoying, you can’t save it up for some other time because you don’t know what the future will bring.
If you think about these changes, you will find that you will really enjoy retirement. I am here to help coach you on living life with gusto and to help you to keep moving forward with your plans on enjoying life.
Want more ideas, sign up for our classes, join in the discussion and become part of our community about life after working at www.patterson2y2r.com
Your feedback is very important to us so if you would like to contact us with a question or comment.
The mailbox associated with this email address is patterson.2y2r@gmail.com .
If you no longer wish to receive A Life Well Lived, please email us at patterson.2y2r@gmail.com .
.
Comentarios