Attending My Funeral

I attended a funeral last week of a man who left an indelible mark in the area of which I reside. The words that were spoken by his family and friends were heart warming; the effect that this man's life had on the broader community and his belief in others were impacting.

As I sat through the service I envisioned that I was given the opportunity to attend my own funeral.

• What would my children/family be saying about me? Would they have to rummage around in the corners of their memories for a few good things to say or would history be replete with examples of love, tenderness, kindness and fun of which they could easily recall?
• Would my friends have significant things to say about how I impacted their lives for good?
• Would people say I loved them more than my work, my successes, my things?
• Would any of my work colleagues/employees attend the funeral and what would they have to say about me?
• Did anyone from the broader community attend?

It was pause for reflection to contemplate what I want to be known for and what I would like people to be saying on my day, along with the realisation that my time here is but brief yet I can still make it count.

What do you want people to say about you? What lasting impact would you like to have? We can let things take their course or we can purposefully go about ensuring the course is how we would like it to be.

And lastly, when we pass from this earth, it won't be the luxury cars we drove, the houses we owned, the businesses we built, the material things we acquired that will be in attendance at our funeral. It will be the people we loved and who loved us in return.