Your ethical will: How do you want to be remembered?

Welcome back to Twelve essential questions to tell a life story.

By joining me in twelve blog posts you will create what Rabbi Leder calls your ethical will.

By answering the questions your loved ones will get to know you deeper and you will understand yourself better. 

Let your memories bring meaning!

To join – read the blog posts, reflect on the questions and write your own answers. You are very welcome to share them in the comments.

How do you want to be remembered?

To my surprise, many people who were quoted in the book answered this question with specific details. For example:

“I am hiking among tall redwood trees, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. I am fifty years old, with my dog.”

If you have followed me long enough to know one of my favourite artists, you will understand why I like this answer:

“Maybe I am on the beach, it’s a warm day, and I’m in a long, flowy white dress. I am with Elvis.”

When I think of my mother, I don’t think of her in one way, or at one age. It varies. Sometimes I see her as she looked in her sixties, sometimes as I remember her in her forties, and - surprisingly - sometimes I think of her in her twenties, the way I see her on photographs from that time.

I don’t want to be remembered at a certain age or in particular clothes. I want everyone who remembers me to remember me in their own way.

I want my loved ones to remember my smile, my inner drive and most of all my love. And then I hope each and every person who has met me will have their own treasured memories and moments with me that they can look back on with a warm feeling in their heart.

How do you want to be remembered?