In the estate planning world, we spend a great deal of time helping clients prepare for the inevitable. Wills are drafted, life files are carefully compiled, and letters of wishes are written with love and intention. These are the tangible ways we plan to leave a legacy, structured, deliberate, and essential.
But recently, I was reminded of the quiet, unintentional legacies we often leave behind. The ones that aren’t drafted on paper, but instead linger in the way we made people feel, in the ordinary things we leave behind, and sometimes, in the most unexpected of places.
Unintended Legacies – My Experience
Many years ago, I lost my brother when he was just six years old. Recently, I found myself going through a box of his old belongings. Inside were the usual mementoes you’d expect – photos, drawings, keepsakes. But nestled among them, I found something unexpected: seeds.
One of my passions is cultivating bonsai trees. So, on a whim, I planted some of those seeds. To my amazement, one of them sprouted. Over the past few months, I’ve been nurturing this little tree with care and attention. Watching it grow has been nothing short of extraordinary.
Unintended Legacies – Impact of this on loved ones
This small act of planting a seed brought my brother back into my life in a quiet, powerful way. It reminded me that while we can plan our legacies with documents and directives, some of the most touching, enduring legacies are the ones we never intended to leave. A smell, a song, a recipe, a tree. These become the threads that connect us to those we’ve lost.
Closing thoughts and Encouragement
In our work, we’ll always advocate for thoughtful planning, because it truly matters. But let’s also remember that the most heartwarming legacies are often found in the simple, everyday things that carry meaning long after we’re gone.
If you’ve ever experienced something similar, a memory that surfaced through an object, a moment, or something seemingly small we would love to hear your story.
Please feel free to share a fond memory in the comments on our Instagram page. Sometimes, sharing these stories is how we keep our loved ones alive in the most meaningful ways.
