Being Remembered

I am reading the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. I am late to the game when it comes to this book, although I have a vague sense that I read it in my twenties.

I am at the part where you think about your funeral.

What do you want to be remembered for in life by those who know you?

As I put fingers to the keyboard, I am weepy.

I think about the years wasted in living outside my body, not knowing how to feel, stuffing emotions with food, running from real connection.

All of these things are different now.

I make a living, encouraging people to get to know themselves intimately.

I sit with what I an feeling daily and meditate on connection, loving-kindness, and presence.

So how do I want to be remembered?

I want people to say I was a good listener.

I have a distinctive laugh, and I would like people to remember that I laughed often. Even though my teenager says my laugh is not just embarrassing but humiliating. I love it.

Connection, family, generosity of spirit, kindness are all things that I strive for and would like acknowledged.

I have always wanted to be seen from across a room, radiating a noticeable a calm, confident warmth. I have no idea if that has ever happened, but it is a desire.

I want people to know that I intended to make those around me feel worthy, valuable, and loved, even if I was not always successful at it.

I will fall short of my aspirations on some days and get closer to them on others.

I have no idea if I will accomplish this, but I do know that to have people feel this way about me when I pass, I must work towards it.

Overcoming and reaching out past the instinctual reactions I have in my nervous system to pull away, judge others, or criticize is hard.

Taking time to write, meditate, physically move, and staying within my circle of influence is imperative.

I have to choose carefully who I interact with, what I read, what I watch and listen to.

I need to embrace this way of life for the rest of mine if I want to be spoken of this way, which is no easy task.

Unfortunately, I live with a teenager and not in an ashram, so daily practice and intentional steps are necessary.

My guess is most of you want people to mention your strengths during your funeral.

We all have a lot of them, and they are as individual as each of us.

How do you want to be remembered?

What are you willing to change to accomplish this?

Send me an email and let me know the steps you will need to take significant or small to be the person you want to be when your funeral comes.

Free Somatic therapy consultations always available.