Three Traits You’d Want People to Remember You By
Friday’s not the time to be morbid, but let’s face it: someday we’ll all be going off to the big Container Store in the sky. How do you want to be remembered? What three traits would you want people to associate you with when it was all said and done?
For me, I’m thinking:
- Kindness
- Optimism
- Subversive silliness
I want to be the person in elder care who’s still laughing at whoopie cushions while giving the world everything that’s left of me. That’s really what it comes down to.
Taking the time to realize what we want to leave behind is key. Once that’s done, I think it’s easier to cut out all of the behaviors and habits that simply don’t jive with our hoped-for legacy. We start becoming the people we always hoped we might be.
So what do you want your legacy to be? Pass into the comments and share your top three with everyone.
photo credit: Beard Papa
This post has 26 comments
September 5th, 2008
Good on you wanting to be a practical joke playing elder, Sara!
Brilliant.
I too would like to be remember for adding a bit of ’sparkle’ to other’s lives.
So, I guess the three traits I’d be pleased to have on my epitaph would be:
1. A good friend
2. A good listener
and…
3. A good guy to have known !
September 5th, 2008
I guess my three traits I would like to be remembered by (or even just be):
- Positive
- Confident
- Authentic
September 5th, 2008
Hmm. How ’bout:
–Level headed and clear thinking
–A man of integrity and character
–Someone who knew how to balance justice with mercy, passion with calmness, fun with work, and needs with wants.
Is that three?
September 5th, 2008
-sense of humor
back to that then,.
- gregarious
- finished her dissertation.
September 5th, 2008
I would like people to say:
She was a good friend
She made me THINK
She made me laugh
September 5th, 2008
I would love to be remembered as being:
1. Resourceful
2. Passionate
3. Generous
That’s how I live my life now, so I see no reason why I would be remembered as anything but those things (and a few more, I hope)
September 5th, 2008
Hmmm - I think I’d say:
1. Fairness
2. Sense of humor
3. Good listener
That’s a good exercise to make you think!
September 5th, 2008
My legacy…..
1. Lived with intention.
2. Encouraged others to embrace their sense of self.
3. Lived her passions.
September 5th, 2008
I’d like to be remembered like this:
1) He loved.
2) He thought.
3) He acted.
And all of this for others.
How many of us truly do any of these?
September 5th, 2008
If I sit on a whoopie cushion at the old folks home, I’ll know who to blame!
OK here are my three
Helpful
Kind to animals
Coulda been worse
September 5th, 2008
1. Happy for the happiness of others.
2. Never expressed anger, conquered it.
3. A positive person.
September 5th, 2008
Loved it. Stumbled.
September 5th, 2008
I’d like to be remembered as -
1. Someone always willing to help out and not expect something in return - not a scorekeeper.
2. Fair and balanced (sort of like Fox News)
3. Optimist
September 5th, 2008
In a sense, I would like not to be remembered. Lao Tzu said that the superior leader achieves everything without being visible.
Failing this, I would like to be thought of as a kind and fair leader, a peacemaker, and a person who never gave up.
Nice post - good idea!
September 5th, 2008
I think I probably read this somewhere, but I would like my tombstone to say “She gave all that she had to give.”
September 5th, 2008
Three traits:
1. Patient
2. Fun
3. Optimistic
September 6th, 2008
My husband and I were talking about this the other day. I came up with:
1. Trusted friend, colleague, family member
2. Authentic
3. Providing experiences to people they may not have otherwise known about.
It’s true - once you have these down, getting rid of activities that don’t help get you there are easier to leave behind.
September 6th, 2008
not that I can claim these–but I can aspire:
1) how good they felt about themselves when I was around
2) how they realized about their own wisdom when I was around
3) how little they knew about me or what I thought
I agree with Effortless Abundance–Lao Tzu had it right.
blessings and wonder,
CG
September 6th, 2008
Let’s see….
1. A lover of life.
2. Passionate for what she believes in.
3. Loving kindness to all.
September 6th, 2008
hmmmm…
1. loving
2. open
3. able
September 6th, 2008
This one has gotten some really interesting responses so far! I keep reading the comments as they come in and going, “Oh! I should’ve put that!” Patience, openness, authenticity, happy for others… so many good things to aspire to.
I’m definitely inspired by your answers, and I hope you’ve been inspired too! If you haven’t joined in, take a minute and add your two (three?) cents, please.
September 7th, 2008
I would love to be thought of as:
1. Optimistic
2. Positive
3. Encouraging
These three are my most prize possessions. I would hate for them not to be acknowledged.
Good one as always!
September 7th, 2008
Hi Sara,
What a great idea.
Mine would be:
1) Compassionate
2) Good Listener
3) Great friend
September 7th, 2008
Hi Sara - this is a pretty good exercise! Let me give it a shot:
1. Giving
2. Honorable
3. Faithful
September 7th, 2008
This really made me think for awhile.
1. Lived life passionately
2. Honest
3. Changed the world for the better
September 7th, 2008
I’m glad this one made you think; it certainly gave me pause, too!
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