Let’s Talk Legacy

Legacy is one of those words that has become a little bit trendy if we’re honest. It’s the kind of word that sounds better, and sells better, than say a Last Will and Testament. Clearly of the two, the former is much more alluring than the latter right? So what is legacy? According to the Oxford online dictionary the word legacy is defined in a few different ways which include, “property or money left in a will”, “a long lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life…”, and also “an applicant to a particular college or university who is regarded preferentially because a parent or other relative attended the same institution.” All three of these definitions can be summed up into a few words, legacy is what you leave behind. Whether its resources, wisdom, or impact, it is fundamentally the leftovers or residue of who you are, what you possess, and what you did with the life you are now living. Legacy requires, planning, intentionality, and humility. You want to leave a legacy of clean air? You reduce your carbon footprint. You want to leave a legacy of good health? You exercise and eat well. You want to leave a legacy of philanthropy? You budget, invest, and grow your resources so you can give more to those in need. You want to leave a legacy of education? You make yourself teachable at all times, you study, and you share your wisdom and knowledge with others. You want to leave a legacy of wealth? You make an estate plan.