How Will You Be Remembered? Here’s How to Adopt a ‘Legacy’ Mindset Katherine Kam - The Washington Post
go to original January 14, 2024

As you think about which goals to pursue in the new year, consider one with lasting impact: building a legacy.

“What do I want to leave the world? How do I want to be remembered?” said Lisa Marchiano, a psychotherapist in Philadelphia. “When we think in terms of legacy, we’re really trying to use our imagination to think far beyond our own individual existence.”

Short-term goals such as starting a new hobby or saving money for a special vacation can be valuable, but a legacy mind-set requires different considerations. Building a legacy — which benefits others and will survive beyond your lifetime — encourages you to think deeper and longer term, experts say.

How to Start Building a Legacy

Legacy building does not have to be a grand project, it can be a simple one that speaks to your strengths and values. Some examples include:

• Start a collection of recipes of favorite family dishes to give to younger relatives.
• Support an organization that does vital work.
• Mentor a youth who needs guidance and a mature perspective.
• Leave your life lessons in story form for your loved ones or community. Create scrapbooks and photo albums, clearly labeled with added written accounts, so memories won’t be forgotten.
• Research your ancestry and create a family tree.
• Use your talents to create a new family heirloom, for example, a wood sculpture or furniture, a painting or a piece of pottery.

Read the rest at The Washington Post

Related: 5 Things Successful People Do to Develop a Legacy (LinkedIn)