Ways To Leave A Legacy

Have you ever thought about how much your children and grandchildren know about you or how you want to be remembered? Many people know very little about their grandparents’ lives and even less about their great-grandparents' lives. How can you begin to share your stories and teach your family valuable lessons?

Here are eight ways you can preserve your legacy for future generations:

1. Share family traditions. Traditions can help a family create a sense of belonging. Share what you did as a child and create your own traditions with your children and grandchildren.
   
   
2. Pass along your skills and share your interests. Whether it’s cooking, sports, history, books, art, or something else, imparting your skills and interests to your grandchildren can be a fun bonding experience. Your grandchildren will also appreciate the extra time with you.
   
   
3. Write down family recipes. Make copies of your recipes and your parents’ recipes and put them in binders to share with your family. Better yet, cook some of them with your grandchildren!
   
   
4. Label family photos. Knowing the names of everyone in the photos and the estimated years in which photos were taken will be invaluable to your family.  
   
   
5. Create a family tree. If someone else in your family hasn’t already, create a family tree. Start with the people you know, such as your parents’ and grandparents’ names, birthdates, birthplaces, and death dates. There are plenty of resources online to help with this. You may be surprised by what you learn.
   
   
6. Write down or record family stories. Share stories about family members your grandchildren may not have known. Did a relative serve in a war? Maybe someone in the family played on a pro sports team or met someone famous. How did your parents meet or get engaged? Any travel anecdotes? There are so many different stories to tell, and you’ll give your family a treasure by making sure they know these stories.
   
   
7. Give your family your time. This time could include vacations, family dinners, holidays, or just simply playing games or reading together. Your family will remember time spent together.
   
   
8. Write your own story. Who better to tell your story than you? Having your story written ensures you can tell it your way and that it can be known by generations to come.