LASTING LEGACY
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BY KIMBERLY BONEY
m Lasting Legacy L E AV I N G A P R I C E L E S S G I F T F O R L O V E D O N E S
LIFE IS SHORT. Legacies – those tangible and intangible gifts that we create for our families, friends and even those we may never meet – live on long after we are gone. It is an oft-held belief that leaving a legacy that stands the test of time involves passing along financial wealth or property to someone you love. While ensuring that your loved ones are in a position to take care of themselves once you are gone is the textbook definition of a legacy, there are many ways to make a lasting impression that have nothing to do with money. Those gifts of the heart can be given no matter how much or how little you have in your bank account. Follow along for a dozen ways to leave a legacy of love. • Create a signature dish, write the recipe down and teach a family member how to prepare it. There is something about food prepared with love that can transport people back to a treasured moment with a loved one. • Teach a trade or skill you have mastered to someone from a younger generation. As the world begins to move quickly, there isn’t always enough time to share our wisdom. Take someone under your wing. Whether it is the time-honored craftsmanship involved in woodworking, quilting, sewing, metalsmithing or masonry, these are creative and functional gifts you can pass along. The world will thank you. • Make sure your children and grandchildren know “the basics.” Teach them the art of tying a tie, hemming a dress or pressing a shirt like a pro. Show them how to plant and nurture a garden and how to love a pet. Show them how to take pride in their space – no matter how big or small it is. Explain how to balance a checkbook, how to save and how to invest. These are life lessons they will carry into adulthood and pass along to future generations. • Create a piece of artwork that can be passed on to your descendants. Art is a gift – not only for the person who creates it, but for those who get to experience it. You’ll enjoy the process of painting your favorite landscape, throwing a stunning piece of pottery on a wheel, writing a beautiful melody or crafting a piece of furniture – and giving something you created to your family means they will always have a piece of your heart. 4 continued on page 20
OCTOBER 2020
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