How will you be remembered at your funeral?

How will you be remembered at your funeral?

Attended my grandfather’s brother’s funeral today.

He was suffering from dementia and Alzheimers for a number of years but lived a really great life. Can’t complain having lived for 85+ years.

Regardless, death is hard.

It’s been tough on our family because this is now the 3rd death within the last few months.

It’s a reminder that death is inevitable.

Whether or not you want to accept it, we all have a short time on this planet. 

We’re all going to go at some point.

Most people don’t want to accept death because they have to ask themselves hard questions – what happens after I die? Where do I go? Is heaven real or do I just go poof? What happens to my family, friends and the world? If I die, what is the purpose of all of this?

There are no good answers but it doesn’t mean you won’t die.

When we arrived at the funeral home, our family played a slide show of pictures from his life going back to when he got married in India over 50 years ago.

As I was looking at his pale, still body with his memories playing in the background, I couldn’t help but think – this is it.

All you have when you go to your grave is your memories.

The moments and experiences with those around you.

All the material items and trivial problems don’t matter.

But your memories live on in those around you.

It’s usually not the big events or life-changing moments that people typically remember but the small things – the gift, the phone call, the good advice, the funny moment.

These funerals have reminded me again of what’s important.

We’re all going to die so you might as well enjoy the time you have on this planet.

Be a good person. Care about other people. Show up, even when it’s hard.

Build something that outlasts you.

Tell the people around you how much you appreciate them.

Be thankful where you are and with what you have, no matter how big or small it is.

We’re all so lucky to exist on this world.

The chances of your dad’s sperm reaching your mom’s egg are like 1 in 400 trillion.

We’re all gifts.

So enjoy what you have.

Appreciate the greatness inside you because it exists inside everyone.

Create the life you’ve always dreamt of and enjoy the ride along the way because we’re all going to end up in a coffin someday.

How do you want to be remembered at your funeral?