What's your Legacy?

My Aunt Rosemary, age 85, died last night in her sleep. She was a vibrant, active and healthy woman who loved to spend time with family, play cards, garden, cook and help others. She was one of the most giving people I have ever met.

My aunt had experienced much loss in her life. Her husband died of a heart attack when her youngest of 8 children (7 were boys) was only 5 years old. Her oldest, the only girl, was 18. My aunt raised those kids on her husband's social security, earnings from doing other people's laundry and waitressing. She lost a son at age 18 in a mining accident, a son-in-law in a car accident during a snowstorm, a son to cancer, and a grandson who had fallen asleep at the wheel. Her only daughter lives next door and is wheelchair bound due to MS.

Even with all the loss and struggles in her life, Aunt Rosemary was always cheerful, giving a hug and a kiss whenever we saw her. She never acted like a victim and never felt sorry for herself. She had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren and she was so proud of them. I think all her children lived within an hour from her, she loved spending time with them and they took very good care of her, building her a new house, and keeping an eye on her.

My aunt left a legacy of love, strength, perseverence and gratitude, even in the face of adversity, loss and pain. While her death had no warning, it was gentle and I am grateful for that.

What if you were to die in your sleep tonight-what would your legacy be? How do you think you'd be remembered? How would you like to be remembered? Do those two answers match? We don't have much control over how we die, but we do have control over how we live.

You have the power to live in a way that you can be proud of, no matter what your circumstances. You have the opportunity to live the legacy you would like to leave when you are no longer of this world. My hope is that you take advantage of that opportunity.

This is your life.....Make it what you want!