Final Thoughts
As people approach the elder years of their life, thoughts of legacy and impact become near and dear to their hearts. Life, whether it is long or short, can be immortalized if you leave meaning in your wake. With that in mind, here are 20 ways to leave a legacy no one will be forgetting.
1. Giving to Charity
Philanthropy is a great way to not only feel good about yourself, but genuinely make the world a better place. You can honestly save the world one donation at a time, and giving to a good cause or helping others means you are responsible for the happiness of people you might never meet.
2. Planning a Smart Inheritance
A more direct way to think about your legacy is the inheritance you leave. Sometimes it's all too easy to split up your money between your kids and call it a day. But take a little more time to think about who needs it most, and who would do the most good with it. Consider leaving a portion to charity, consider giving the house to the one with family plans, consider making a college fund for the most career-driven one.
3. A Scrapbook
Money and charity aside, you can connect with your family by documenting your own traditions and offering a glimpse into your life. Your children can pass this scrapbook down and even add to it, and who knows, maybe a hundred years from now your latest descendant will be looking over your photos.
4. Creating Art
If you want to have an influence on people beyond your family, consider making art. You might not end up a super famous painter, but you can share your work through social media and even have it hung in community galleries. Who knows, maybe someone will buy your work, and a little piece of you will live on in an entirely different household.
RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist on Unsplash
5. Building Furniture
Creating tangible objects for yourself, your family members, friends, and even possible buyers is a great way to preserve your legacy. Nowadays, so many designers live on through the clothes they make or the beds they build, and you can join their ranks, even if the table you make ends up being your family's favorite centerpiece.
Phillip Goldsberry on Unsplash
6. Mentoring Others
Of course, things don’t always have to be tangible. The experiences and memories we impart on others are just as long-lasting and powerful. Taking the time to mentor someone in need, perhaps teaching them a skill you excel at or sharing some financial wisdom, is a great way to be an integral part of their life.
7. Making a Recipe Book
Another way to stay relevant to your family even after generations is by creating a recipe book. We’ve all heard of grandma’s famous cookies, and you can take this to the next level by writing down your favorite recipes and even adding other picks from your partner and siblings.
8. Making Music
Music is another intangible thing that lives on after we are gone. After all, consider all the famous musical pieces from hundreds of years ago that are played in orchestras worldwide. Even if you don’t become the next Mozart, your music will still live on for your friends, family, and perhaps a few fans.
9. Cherishing Family
Speaking of family, simply spending time with them is a great way to leave a legacy. Our memories are precious to us, and lots of kids think fondly of their grandparents and tell their stories to their own kids.
10. Writing a Family Memoir
Of course, if you’ve learned important lessons from your life or have overcome adversity, you should share it with the world. Writing a memoir is a great way to reach others from your mistakes and perhaps offer a glimpse into the intricacies of your own life.
11. Living with Integrity
Sometimes, the best way to leave a legacy is to simply live your life with pride and integrity. Do the right thing through and through, and others will come to respect and cherish you. You can become a figurehead in your community, or a trusted friend in your circles.
12. Volunteering Your Time
If you want to have a more direct and positive impact, consider volunteering. Many retirees find themselves missing work, but can easily substitute that by volunteering for good causes. Not only are you leaving the world better than when you found it, but you’re healing your own soul as well.
13. Reconciling
Family drama and feuds can often lead to relationships degrading and breaking apart. It isn’t uncommon to have fallen out with family members you once loved. Now is a great time to consider reconciliation, and to mend bridges before it's too late.
14. Contributing to Science
Since we’re covering all the major ways to leave a legacy, we have to mention science. So many scientists have become famous and won prizes because they advanced human knowledge. If you’re academically inclined or simply inventive, pursue your interests and create useful innovations that make the species better as a whole.
15. Writing a Book
Of course, there are also many famous authors that have left their mark on the world through their writing. Whether you prefer poetry or prose, there are so many different genres to consider, and millions of readers who could fall in love with your work.
16. Leaving Personal Messages
If you’re worried about the time you have left with certain individuals in your family, consider writing letters. Perhaps you have some advice you want to leave your granddaughter when she's much older, or perhaps you want to offer your partner some support in their darkest moments.
17. Spending Time with Grandkids
We already know spending time with people and making memories is a great way to leave an impact, but this goes two-fold for grandkids. Be an active and present part of their life, show up for their recitals, and through the next generation, you will live on.
18. Helping Others
If volunteering or charity seem a bit too direct, you can just help others in a more general fashion. As the saying goes, do one good deed a day. It can be as simple as holding a door for a passerby, or offering a snack to someone on the side of the street.
19. Blogging Your Experiences
Lots of people blog as an outlet to get their feelings out, but they soon find themselves becoming trusted figures for advice and entertainment. Don’t be afraid to engage with the world through the internet. You never know what you’ll find.
20. Fighting For Your Beliefs
Finally, in today’s political state, no matter what side of the fence you end up on, it’s also important to fight for your beliefs. Something as simple as voting or joining a protest is an impactful way to fight for the state of this world and be true to yourself.
