If you walked into our office, the first thing you’d see is a gigantic “Before I Die I want to…”
board hanging on the left wall of the entryway. Initially, this might sound a bit morbid, sure. I’ve had clients react to the board with raised eyebrows and confused looks. But then, they start to read the entries. That’s when it all clicks.
A few of my favorites:
Use summer as a verb
Show my son the ways of the world
Know our grandchildren
We’ve asked our clients to think about what they want to do, who they want to be, and/or what they want to accomplish before they breathe their last breath. Some clients quickly grab a dry erase marker and start writing, while others take their time before answering the question. Then, there are those who can’t get out of the office fast enough once they see the large board.
I wonder how many of us move through life without giving this question a second thought. Maybe it’s too hard, too painful, too fearful, or simply too far off into the future. Most of us rarely think about our last breath, because our now breaths are so natural and effortless. Why ruin a perfectly good day thinking about how tomorrow isn’t promised? When we shift our paradigm of thinking from leaving a legacy to living one in the present, we begin to realize this isn’t ruining anything at all. In fact, this new way of thinking will ultimately lead us down the road we want to be on and stay on. One of my favorite
chapters in the book I recently released is titled “The Gift of Leaving.” In those pages I write about how we don’t have to wait until we’re gone to leave the world better than when we found it. We can live our desired legacy starting… now.
I didn’t necessarily set out to write the book for other people’s enjoyment or consumption. It all started as an exercise in healing and finding ways to accept Life on Life’s terms. The book was the medicine that became integral to my healing journey. Truth is, I couldn’t not write it since it was inside me begging to be let out. This book will be my legacy to my twins, friends, family, clients, colleagues, and the world… even if it’s “just” my tiny little world here in Cedar Park, TX. Challenge yourself today to give serious thought into your story. That’s why Sacred Stories’ work is so profound and essential.
There’s no need to kick the can of sharing your story down the road. Pick the can up, fill it with your story, and then pour it out for the benefit of yourself and those you love, in each and every present moment.
What would our lives look like if we finished the sentence “Before I Die I want to…” and took it a step further: “Before I fall asleep tonight I want to…”
Lindsey Leaverton is an Austin-based wealth management strategist currently serving as the Director of Wealth Management Services at The Miura Group. Lindsey’s first book “Not Another Self-help Book” was released earlier this year. Lindsey is a part of the Sacred Stories Advisory Group.