Tending the Fire - How We’re Remembered
I recently went to a funeral. We laid to rest my grandfather– the last of my grandparents, the closing of a generation within our family.
As the family swapped memories and stories, I noticed a few themes that surfaced– key attributes that we all seemed to recognize in my grandfather and hold dear to our hearts.
When I got home, hubby Keegan and I went for a walk by the river. Movement in nature is an important tool of connection for us. “In a reflective-not-morbid-way, I have a question for you...” I said to him, “what are some characteristics that you hope people say about you at your funeral?”
Keegan is used to my questions and didn’t skip a beat (he married a coach after all... he knew what he was getting himself into 🙃). We strolled along the river’s edge, gazing at the gently turning leaves and swapping attributes that feel authentic and meaningful to us.
We talked about turning points and milestones and choices that have shaped who we are. We named the parts within us that we’re proud of, and what we’d do differently if given the chance. We dropped the platitudes and generalizations and tried to be specific, knowing that it’s important that our actions align with our words. We did our best to answer: What does “a life well lived” mean to me?
The reflection was insightful and clarifying. Naming how we hope to be remembered can help illuminate what’s meaningful in how we live now.
With that in mind, I’ll turn it over to you, dearest reader: Is this a question you might want to explore? If so, I’ll place it here for you to ponder:
In a reflective-not-morbid-way, I have a question for you... what are some characteristics that you hope people say about you at your funeral?
Below is a brief (not-at-all-comprehensive) list of descriptors to get the wheels turning. Perhaps you select a couple and then explore: Why are these characteristics important to me? And how might knowing this shape the ways I show up in my life now?
These questions and more are in the Invitation section below if you feel like digging in deeper. And if you don’t, that’s okay too. These are big questions– go gently.
Yours in reverence and reflection,
Shannah 🤍
Nurtured Founder & Coach
Your turn! Let’s check in. The following questions are here as a way to tend your fire.
Remember, this doesn’t have to be a big time commitment to be helpful. If it feels good, put on a song, pick one question from the list, and noodle until the song ends.
What are a couple characteristics (from the list provided or beyond) that feel authentic and meaningful to me?
These are important to me because:
How might knowing these characteristics matter to me shape the ways I show up in my life now? (In what ways are my actions aligned with these characteristics? In what ways are they not?)
When I think of a “live well lived” to me that looks like:
One action I can and will take TODAY to nurture living my life well is:
Big bravo for taking a moment to explore, check in, and tend your own fire. 🔥 If you would like to have your responses witnessed, I would be delighted to receive them! Email me anytime at shannah@gonurtured.com.
Would you like a copilot in this exploration? Someone to ride alongside you as you as you ask big questions and name the answers? Know that I’m here and would be honored to do just that. Send me a note to get in touch.