For my husband’s very first Father’s Day in 2009, we visited every father in the Binkley family line who had lived in the United States. Kenny had done extensive research and traced his family line back to the 1700s when Peter ‘Binkele’ came over from Switzerland.

The grave sites were less than a 50-mile round-trip from one another, so we planned a day trip. Many family members joined us, including Kenny’s father and uncles, and after visiting Kenny’s grandfather, the oldest living Binkley in the paternal line at the time, we made our way to six grave sites in total. As we gathered around the headstone at our first stop, the men told stories of what they remembered of Kenny’s great grandfather.

I’m curious…how do you want to be remembered?

In the day-to-day hustle and bustle it is so easy to lose sight of your priorities, but there’s nothing quite like beginning with the end in mind to help you set them straight.

So, as you imagine generations-to-come gathering around your gravesite, what stories do you want them to tell? What characteristics do you want them to list? What do you hope that they will pass down to their children?

Now, if your tombstone reflected your calendar or bank statement, what would it say?

Would it say ‘Beloved Business Owner’, ‘Faithful Facebook Friend’, ‘Treasured Volunteer’ or ‘Loyal Seahawks Fan’? How about ‘Cherished Amazon Prime Member, ‘Loving Target Red Card Holder’? There have been times where my tombstone would say these if it were my calendar or bank statement doing the talking.

To be clear, there is nothing wrong with the things listed above, but they just aren’t how I want to be remembered. I have to be intentional about finding balance and ensuring that my true priorities are reflected in my day-to-day actions, both in life and business, and for me that starts with writing down the legacy I want to leave.