As we get more comfortable in living our lives, we may come to think about about our future legacy. Having sufficient money to live comfortably has no meaning when we are gone.
Our legacy naturally intrigues us. It’s perfectly understandable that we would want to know how the world will remember us after we’re gone. How many of us will be surprised? How many of us are living our lives so that our legacy reflects all that we truly hold most near and dear? How many of us are living with integrity and courage?
Legacy is about life and living. It’s about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future. The idea of legacy may remind us of death, but it’s not about death. Legacy is really about life and living; It helps us make decisions about the kind of life we want to live and the world we want to live in.
Legacy is fundamental to what it is to be human. Research shows that without a sense of working to create a legacy, adults lose meaning in their life. Exploring your idea of legacy offers a glimpse not only into human relationships and building strong communities, but also the human spirit.
When you start thinking about legacies, no matter what your age or state of health, you take stock – of your possessions, and also of your accomplishments and disappointments. You take stock of what you’ve learned from what you’ve done in the past, what you’re doing now, lessons learned and what you still hope to do. With varying levels of awareness, individuals also inevitably reflect on the people, work, ideas, commitments, and social institutions that have given their lives shape and meaning.
Your idea of your legacy may take many forms – children, grandchildren, your business, philanthropy, a book, a community, a home, some piece of ourselves.
Where is the best place to plant a young tree: a clearing in an old-growth forest or an open field? Ecologists tell us that a young tree grows better when it’s planted in an area with older trees. The reason, it seems, is that the roots of the young tree are able to follow the pathways created by former trees and implant themselves more deeply. Over time, the roots of many trees may actually graft themselves to one another, creating an intricate, interdependent foundation hidden under the ground. In this way, stronger trees share resources with weaker ones so that the whole forest becomes healthier. That’s legacy: an interconnection across time, with a need for those who have come before us and a responsibility to those who come after us.
If you a property and are thinking about your legacy, then there may be a more profound way – ensuring that future generations have a stable home to live in, much like you did. Better Futures Housing Trust can help.
Better Futures was created around the philosophy of legacy. Our goal to preserve affordable housing for those who need it – working individuals and families that cannot otherwise afford reasonably priced, good quality homes. If you want to add housing for future generations to your legacy, we would love to hear from you.