How To Leave a Lasting Legacy
Explore the many ways to leave a mark on this world so you can start your impactful journey today.
“I’m the north campus chairperson, and it gives me the chance to apply my professional skills to a place I care greatly about, my community. I’m not sure other places would give me that opportunity.”
– Frank, Twin Lakes resident
What is a Legacy
A legacy is the inheritance or impact a predecessor leaves behind for people, communities, or causes. There are multiple types of legacies you can pursue to gift the world:
- Creative Legacy: The act of challenging norms, innovating solutions, and making art.
- Digital Legacy: The digital archive one curates in the form of multimedia storytelling, including blogs and videos.
- Educational Legacy: The knowledge and opportunities passed down through lifelong learning, scholarships, and teaching.
- Personal Legacy: The beliefs, gifts, inheritance, traditions, and values one leaves to family, friends, and local community.
- Philanthropic Legacy: The support given to an important cause or nonprofit, such as donating time, money, and resources that further the initiative and reach.
- Professional Legacy: The contributions to one’s work, such as curating a strong culture in an organization or developing a new technique in the craft.
- Sustainable Legacy: The act of supporting the environment and the future of younger generations.
The Benefits of Leaving a Legacy
Leaving a lasting legacy benefits you and so many others in a variety of ways:
- Creates generational wealth and access to resources for the youth in your life
- Extends long-term support to causes and organizations that matter most to you
- Greater ability to connect with other generations
- Improved leadership and advocacy skills
- Preserved cultural heritage and traditions
- Strengthened sense of purpose, fulfillment, and connection to something greater
“Anytime you volunteer, you’re really giving to yourself. Of course, you’re giving back to the community, but it’s a real gift for yourself. It feels good to do a good deed.”
-Carol, Concord Reserve resident
Steps to Leaving a Lasting Legacy
The work of creating a lasting legacy can seem overwhelming, but this great project is easier to tackle with these steps:
- Get started today, even in the smallest way. Waiting only makes it harder to achieve the legacy you want to leave.
- Define what you’re trying to accomplish and write down your goals to uphold your values and achieve your vision.
- Create new or improved habits here and there that can help you carry out the actions to make your legacy possible.
- Share your vision with others. This will help you hold yourself accountable to your goals, find the right people to help you make your legacy possible, and inspire others to do the same.
Start looking ahead with our free ebook, Planning for Your Long-term Future
At Life Enriching Communities (LEC), we’re committed to ensuring patrons feel well-equipped to plan their future and age how they wish. Explore more resources on senior living or contact us today to learn more about our legacy of services and programs that bring meaning and purpose to every stage of life.