A common theme among the very old is an understanding of life as a continuous thread. We recognize that our time is limited. We also recognize that there are things we can do to contribute to the world, beyond our actual time here on earth.
Many older adults are drawn to caring for the future. It’s a natural part of the aging process to review one’s life and make amends. Some of us go further and share or invest in projects that will live on after we are gone.
Below are some activities you might consider as you think about your own legacy:
A life review can be done at any age. It always helps to take a few steps back and put your life into perspective. You may find it gives a reassuring sense of closure. And if you choose to share your review with family members, it can be a legacy of a more personal nature. Passing along the wisdom and insights you’ve gathered over your lifetime can be very meaningful to both you and your loved ones.
Public or private?
Some people wish to share their reviews with family or friends. Others view the exercise as immensely personal. Making it a private project may allow you to delve deeper without needing to adjust your thoughts based on the expectations of others.
Many formats There’s no “right” medium for a life review:
Writing. This can be done privately or for others to read. The advantage is that you can do it at any time you are inspired to dip in.
Audio recording. This medium allows for more spontaneous expression. You won’t get hung up on concerns such as spelling or grammar.
Video. This format can be very meaningful for sharing your thoughts with family, friends, and perhaps generations that are not yet old enough to have this type of conversation with you. At the same time, it does include an element of performance that can be limiting or distracting.
There are pros and cons to each medium. Choose which one feels right for you.
A memoir
One option is to create a memoir, starting at the beginning and moving chronologically through your life. There are even online services that enable you to upload photos and publish a small book. However, be aware that people who write memoirs often get bogged down in detail. Or they hit a rough spot in their life and it’s hard to push past it. Memoirs can be fascinating to share. But they can also become overwhelming to create.
A slice-of-life review This type of review is a much shorter project than a memoir. Consider thinking about the top five crossroads or challenges in your life, and ask yourself:
What were the forces at play in your life at that time?
What did you learn from the decisions you made?
What are you proud of from this period in your life?
What have you thought about the roads not taken?
Any insights to share?
If you’d like more inspiration, try Googling “life review” or “memoir” to find templates and ideas online.
“Good judgement is the result of experience and experience the result of bad judgement.”
— Mark Twain, author
All families have conflict now and then. Simply put, human life is messy. And everyone has things they wish they had done differently with family and friends. Perhaps in their work life as well. Part of the aging process involves reflection about the past and sometimes regret about the way things turned out. Engaging with forgiveness—whether asking for or offering it—can lead to the repair of relationships and the lightening of emotional burdens.
Lessons from the end of life
A staggering number of families have members who don’t talk to each other and haven’t for years. In the face of a terminal diagnosis, however, those grudges often feel small compared to the idea of never seeing each other again. Hospice professionals regularly witness families who forgive each other “at the end” and deeply regret all the time they lost as a family and cannot reclaim.
Asking for forgiveness Why wait for a terminal diagnosis? If in a review of your life you realize there are things you would like to be forgiven for, consider these insights from the Stanford Forgiveness Project:
Be vulnerable and truly acknowledge the action you regret. It is not weakness to admit that you did something you wish you hadn’t. It takes a strong person to admit an error in judgment.
Apologize with empathy. “I’m sorry” may work. But what truly creates connection is to express your understanding of the impact of your actions on the other person.
Ask for forgiveness and listen. An apology is a one-way communication. By specifically asking for forgiveness and asking how you might make amends, you begin to rebuild trust. This does not mean you have to do whatever they request. But if you can, that speaks volumes. Often simply listening without defenses is enough.
Say thank you. Forgiveness conversations often end on a very sweet note. They usually involve tears and sacrifices or giving on both sides. Acknowledge that gift as a way to lay the foundation for a new reconciled relationship.
Extending forgiveness
Perhaps you realize you’d like to resolve an unfinished relationship. Or maybe you have decided that the burdens of the anger and hurt you feel inside are keeping the injury too front and center in your life. Forgiveness is a powerful gift, to yourself as well as to the other person.
You do not have to forget. Forgiveness is not excusing the other person’s behavior and sweeping it away. It’s a simple acknowledgment that the bad thing happened, but you want to stop carrying the hurt. You value peace in your heart over harboring the grievance.
Forgiveness is about reclaiming your power. You do not need to communicate with the person who hurt you to forgive them. Instead, your forgiveness can involve your own focus on the positives that are present in your life despite the setbacks.
Acknowledge the courage it takes to forgive. Part of bringing that painful chapter to a close is to recognize that there is great strength in setting down the hurts from the past and walking forward. Forgiveness is an act of courage. Let that be the ending of the story.
If the person involved is not available Whether you are asking for forgiveness or extending it, the healing is found in your own internal shift. If the person involved is not available—through death or distance—you can still make the changes in your heart. Sometimes it helps to write a letter or enact a conversation with them. Unilateral forgiveness is extremely effective in the process of creating a legacy.
Who are the people who matter most in your life? Have you told them lately how important they are to you? Are there things you would like them to know?
It can be awkward to give praise in person. Many people assume their friends and loved ones know they are cared about. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. (We all tend to underestimate our value or likability.) A letter is a simple but powerful way to be sure those in your innermost circle know how important they are to you, and why. To say how much their presence has meant to you.
Writing individual letters of appreciation to the important people in your life is a profound and very personal legacy to leave. Some ideas for where to start:
Share favorite memories you have of them.
Tell them what you admire about them (their personal qualities).
Relate incidents in their lives or choices they made that made you feel very proud of them (achievements).
Thank them for the joy and caring they brought to you over the years (describe examples).
If there is a special memento you would like them to have, describe it and why you associate it with them. Be sure to label it and/or set it aside so they will receive it if you should die before they get the letter.
Some people send these letters soon after writing them. Others put them with their will and other legal papers, to be distributed after they have died. Whatever way you choose, these communications will be keepsakes that are treasured forever.
An ethical will is a way to share your wisdom. It bequests “lessons learned” and loving insights for those who will follow after you in the family. It can also be a way to let future generations know more about you.
An ethical will can be written, but like a life review, it can also be dictated or recorded on video.
Some share their ethical will with others before they die. Others leave it to be sent or communicated after their passing. It’s up to you which way feels most appropriate. If you choose to wait until after death, make sure it’s stored in a safe place that others know about, ideally with the legal will.
Thoughts to consider sharing in an ethical will:
Your happiest moment and why
Important crossroads and what you learned
Your biggest regret
Suggestions for when they encounter hardships
Your definition of religion, spirituality, or faith
Stories about your childhood and family life growing up
Important lessons from your parents or grandparents
A favorite memory of your mother, father, cousins, or grandparents
How your childhood affected who you became
Your professional life
Many family members may not know about your successes and challenges in the work world.
What is your proudest work achievement?
What was your biggest work challenge?
Who was your most important mentor?
Why did you choose the profession you were in?
Any other profession you considered exploring? What attracted you to the one you ultimately chose?
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