When people hear the word legacy, they often think of money or possessions, what we’ll leave behind in a will, or how our names might be remembered. But real legacy has little to do with wealth. It’s about connection, the love we give, the lessons we share, and the small moments of meaning that ripple long after we’re gone.

As I often say in my workshops, legacy is love in action while we’re alive. It’s the way we show up for others, how we live out our values, and how we nurture the people and causes that matter to us. Legacy isn’t something that happens later. It’s being written every single day in how we live right now.

A Mother’s Letter: Love Preserved in Words

During one of my Living Fully, Dying Prepared workshops, a young mother shared that she wanted to write a letter to her son. She planned to give it to him during his teenage years, but she wanted to write it now, while the emotions were still fresh and, as she said, “just in case I’m not here to give it to him later.”

She had endured a difficult journey to become a mother, facing multiple challenges in conceiving and carrying a baby to term. Now, with her healthy baby boy in her arms, she wanted to make sure he would always know how deeply loved and wanted he was.

She began the letter in the workshop, her pen moving slowly at first, then steadily as her words took shape, words of gratitude, joy, and unconditional love.

That letter, I thought, will be one of the most beautiful pieces of her legacy. It’s not about material things. It’s about the truth of her love, captured in her own handwriting, ready to comfort and guide him someday when he needs to be reminded of where he came from.

Living Authentically as Legacy

I often reflect on my own legacy and the impact I want to make on friends, family, and community. For me, legacy isn’t about the projects I complete or the roles I hold. Instead, it’s about living as my authentic self, guided by the values that feel most true.

One of the people who shaped those values was my maternal grandmother. She was a strong woman, the heart and head of our family. She made sure we always gathered to celebrate holidays, birthdays, and simply being together. She taught me that family connection isn’t something to take for granted; it’s something to nurture.

That, too, is legacy. Not in money or monuments, but in moments of belonging. My grandmother’s lessons live on every time our family comes together in laughter and love.

The Science of Meaning and Connection

Research has shown that connection and belonging are among the strongest predictors of well-being throughout life. In her book The Gifts of Imperfection, Brené Brown writes, “Connection is why we’re here; it’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives.”

When we show up authentically, extend kindness, and live according to our values, we’re already shaping the story that others will remember. The legacy we leave isn’t built in one grand gesture. It’s created in the hundreds of quiet, loving choices we make each day.

Reflect and Connect

Your legacy isn’t waiting in the distance. It’s unfolding in this very moment. Take a few quiet minutes to reflect:

• Who in your life has shaped who you are today?
• What values guide the choices you make and the way you show up for others?
• How might you express love or gratitude to someone who’s been part of your journey?

A Gentle Invitation

Legacy is not about what we leave after we’re gone. It’s about what we share while we’re here.

Take a few moments this week to reach out to someone who has shaped your life. Write them a letter or a simple note of appreciation. Tell them what they mean to you.

It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to be true. Because the most lasting legacies aren’t stored in safes or written in legal documents. They live in the hearts of those we’ve loved well.