Is it normal to consider how you want to be remembered? Absolutely. In fact, it’s something that we should all think about at some point in our lives. Legacies are important, and how future generations remember us can have a big impact on the world. Some people set up foundations in their name; others leave behind instructions for their funeral or memorial service.
When we think about leaving our friends and loved ones, it is natural to think of the impact that we have made and the mark we will leave on the world.
When you choose to preplan your funeral, you can incorporate this vision into your end-of-life celebration in a way that is true to you. The Gardens of Boca Raton are here to help.
Important Questions When Considering Your Legacy
No matter how big or small, every legacy starts with a thought. What do you want your legacy to be? Here are some questions to get you started:
- What are your values, and how do you want them reflected in your legacy?
- What difference do you want to make in the world?
- How do you want to be remembered by your family, friends, and community?
- What are your hopes and dreams for future generations?
Answering these questions can help you start to formulate a plan for your legacy. It’s important to think about how you want to be remembered because our legacies live on long after we’re gone.
What Is a Legacy?
A legacy is something that is passed down from one generation to the next. It can be an intangible thing like a memory, a love of learning, or a sense of humor, or it can be something tangible like a piece of art or a family heirloom. Regardless of what form it takes, a legacy is an important part of who we are and how we leave our mark on the world.
Memorial planning is one way to ensure that your legacy will live on after you’re gone. By preplanning your funeral or memorial service, you can make sure that your final wishes are carried out and that your loved ones are taken care of. This can be a difficult topic to think about, but it’s an important one. No one knows when their time will come, so it’s best to be prepared.
Ways To Build a Legacy
There are many ways to build your legacy and ensure that you are remembered the way you want. Some may resonate with you, others may not, and even if you see nothing below that truly inspires you, these are a few ways that others think about the legacy they are leaving for the future. Here are a few examples:
1. Leave behind a gift of charity in your name to an organization that you truly care and believe in.
2. Donate your time and resources to a cause you believe in. Many people don’t have the ability to leave behind a financial gift for important causes, but you can find satisfaction in helping while you are still here.
3. Write down your life story and share it with future generations. Everyone has cameras in their pockets these days, and so while there will be many pictures and videos of us when we leave our loved ones, there don’t tell the story that only you can pass on.
4. Create artwork, music, or literature that will be remembered long after you’re gone. Much like leaving a life story, your creative efforts will be appreciated by future generations even if they don’t end up in the Met. Your personal perspective of the world will shine through your creations and can add to the legacy you leave behind.
5. Become an expert in a particular subject and share your knowledge with others. If you have a subject that you are passionate about, bringing this passion to others is a way to build a legacy while honoring the things you hold dear and helping this subject carry on to future generations. Whether your passion is for environmental conservation, awareness of a disease or illness, or even something obscure, your efforts will help carry it forth to new people.
6. Start a tradition that will be passed down through your family for generations. When you are gone, the things that you hold dear to your heart may be forgotten over time, but if you can create a tradition — such as a hike through your favorite forest, a special meal, or a trip to a special place — your future generations will enjoy your foresight for years to come.
No matter how you choose to be remembered, the most important thing is to make sure that your legacy reflects your values and what you believe in. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
Have You Thought About Preplanning Your Funeral?
How do you want to be remembered? It’s something worth thinking about. Your legacy is how you will be remembered by future generations, so make it a good one. Preplanning your funeral or memorial service is one way to ensure that your legacy lives on. Once you are gone, your loved ones will be left trying to put together a celebration of your life without your input. Your legacy is closely tied to who you are as a person, so there is nobody better than you to plan a celebration that can reflect this legacy in a way that is true to you.
Not only does preplanning ensure that your funeral and end-of-life celebration is exactly what you want, but it can also save you money. By preplanning now, you can lock in today’s funeral prices and save your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions on your behalf. After losing a loved one, many people find themselves overwhelmed with planning a funeral on short notice as they try to balance the grief of the loss, the stress of the many tasks necessary after the death of a loved one, and the needs of the others that you’ve left behind. By preplanning, you can add “thoughtful and full of foresight” to your legacy.
When you know that you want your legacy to be remembered in a certain way and you incorporate these wishes into your funeral services, your friends and family will be able to enjoy your unique perspective of the world as they reflect on their memories of you and honor your life.
Contact The Garden To Discuss Preplanning Your Funeral Today
So how do you want to be remembered? Start thinking about it now, and then take the steps necessary to make sure that your legacy lives on. Early funeral planning is one way to do that. It’s a difficult topic to think about, but it’s an important one, and your loved ones will thank you for it.
