Why Should I Write a Legacy Statement?
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It may help you identify what you value most and what you stand for.
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By articulating what you value now, you can take steps to ensure the continuation of those values for future generations.
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You may learn a lot about yourself in the process of writing a legacy statement.
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It may help you come to terms with your own mortality by creating something of meaning that will live on after you are gone.
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It can provide a sense of completion in your life.
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If you don’t tell your stories and the stories from your parents and grandparents, no one else will and they will be lost forever.
Leave your heirs something more valuable than your estate: LOVE!
Create a Legacy Statement
Your legacy statement is non-binding and different from your legally-binding will that distributes your material possessions. Your legacy statement is an account of the things that mattered most in your life, the lessons you learned and the values you cherish most. Your legacy statement can also provide “permission” to the next generation to take different paths or explore new ideas.
If you carry your intentions to completion, you are resolute,
If you live a long and creative life, you will leave an eternal legacy”
– Lao Tzu Chinese philosopher
Creating a Life Legacy: An in-depth guide to help you create a legacy statement. Information from Fairview Health Services, a well-respected non profit health care system in Minnesota. Read More
Online Examples and Tips for Writing Your Legacy Statement
Don’t wait until you are on your deathbed to do this. As soon as you articulate your values, suddenly you start to live your life more intentionally. Especially if you share it. Information from NextAvenue.org: The Ethical Will: Life Is About More Than Your Possessions
The following articles are from Everplans, an online personal document storage company. Although a commercial enterprise, Everplans provides free information and resources about end of life planning. You might find the following articles helpful in creating your own legacy statement:
