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close-up of footprints on sea shore

What is the legacy you want to leave behind?

What makes a life truly worth living or a legacy worth remembering? I believe it’s simple yet profound: if even one person who knew you personally remembers you with love after you’re gone, you’ve lived a meaningful life. But reaching that mark is harder than it seems. Most of us wear two facesone public, one privateand few know the real us behind closed doors. I strive to keep my public and private selves aligned. I speak my truth plainly, without sugarcoating, even if it makes me unpopular. This authenticity invites raw honesty in return, which I welcome though it’s not always comfortable. My goal isn’t to craft a perfect legacy or win universal approval. Instead, I focus on leaving no burdensdebts, unfinished tasks, or unresolved conflictsfor my family to carry after I’m gone.

Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

I’ve shared this story before, but it’s worth repeatinga tribute to someone who profoundly shaped my life: my maternal grandfather. His journey is a true rags-to-riches tale, one of resilience, integrity, and boundless generosity. Born into poverty, my grandfather rose to work for one of the wealthiest landlords in the region. Through his unwavering dedication, he earned the landlord’s trust and, remarkably, married his only daughter. But his story didn’t end there. With relentless hard work, he not only surpassed the landlord’s wealth but also expanded his legacy by acquiring land and building homes for his extended family. What sets him apart is that he achieved all this without ever compromising his principlesnever resorting to dishonest means. Even six decades after his passing, his name is spoken with reverence in our town. His legacy endures, a testament to a life well-lived. What inspires me most about my grandfather is his… Share a story about someone who had a positive impact on your life.

a statue of a person on a pole in a field

If you could have something named after you, what would it be?

I don’t want anything named after me. I’m an ordinary person, not chasing grandeur or immortality through plaques or monuments. If, after I’m gone, just one person who knew me well remembers me with gratitude and love, that’s enough. To me, that would mean my life had purpose, that it was worth living. The idea of having something bear my name feels fleeting, even hollow. We see it all around usroads, colleges, libraries named after public figures, their legacies etched in stone or steel. But how often do future generations truly know them? Statues get painted over, torn down, or forgotten as time shifts values and ideologies. Even the gods of ancient cultures, once revered, fade from memory. If deities can’t hold fans across the ages, what chance do we mortals have? That’s why I don’t pin my hopes on permanence. Instead, I’d rather leave behind a quiet ripplea memory… If you could have something named after you, what would it be?