Legacy Projects - By Maxine Fehr

What legacy do you want to leave behind? How do you want your loved ones to coup and remember you? What can you do for your family, or with your family to help them get through the transition that lies ahead? Legacy projects are projects or activities you can do for or with your loved ones to honor your life in passing. They are ways to coup with fears and regrets and incorporates anything that you loved physically and share it with the world. It is a physical keepsake that you can create to communicate your legacy to those who come after you. This can involve your biography, important life events, the wisdom you’ve gleaned, the love and relationships you’ve enjoyed, your personal accomplishments, your faith, your hopes and dreams (both realized and not) and so much more.

As you work on your legacy project, the important things in your life will come to the surface. Include them in some way! You can do it with words, images, or music. The words and images don’t have to be your own, either – this is why some people choose to do collages or compilations as a legacy project. So don’t feel the need to “reinvent the wheel” and create every element from scratch. Because you are passing on what you have received, it’s ok to quote great minds or make use of beautiful music or emphasize the most captivating images.

All in all, I think the most important thing is to talk to your loved ones as you work on your project. Whatever you choose to do will be all the more important to them if they have some part in creating it. Ask you spouse and children what they remember most about you, or how you’ve impacted their lives. Talk to them about how they have impacted you. You may just be surprised at how a legacy project can actually bring you closer together.

Some ideas for meaningful legacy projects can be but are not limited to:

-Writing Letters to your loved ones

-Creating a Legacy Scroll

-Write a book

-Write a Journal

-Make a Legacy Quilt

-Create a Legacy Collage

-personalizing a bird feeder

-Build a legacy box

-Audio Recording

-Video Recording

Whatever you choose to do remember this, it is ok not to finish the project once you have started. There might be a time when you are unable to do so and that IS ok. When you start something and express your wishes and vision to your family, if they so choose they can always finish it for you. What is important is that your loved ones know that you cared enough to start something not just to honor your life and legacy, but to honor theirs as well.

It is the journey, not the destination.