Contributed by Joy Martin
It’s October in Colorado,” we sigh together. Summer’s buzzy heat quiets, replaced with muted autumn mornings. Another season folds its hands on a job well done, ushering in the next. Sweaters pull over sleepy heads, and the mind mulls over memories sparked by smells, sounds, and the return of pumpkins. Nature’s wardrobe change sets the stage for personal reflection, and the slideshow begins, bringing a smile to the face or a knot in the chest.
Memories are fuzzy things, where fiction meets historical fact, thoughts tethered by our technicolored worldviews. Laughter and tears, pride and sorrow: we carry so much in our weary bodies. Where do the thoughts go? They travel to the jaw, the neck, the back, and the hips, lodging in the narrowing spaces of these earthly vessels. These thoughts, like exhalations, seek an escape route. Talking is one. But there’s another way, the one where you get to write, word by word.
At our healthiest, humans are driven by and toward connection. Mere reflection keeps us isolated in our own inner worlds, but the act of writing turns the work outward. While experiences form us, stories connect us. We see ourselves in anecdotes and find comfort in the reality that all suffer. All stumble. All fall. All die.
Before we return to dust, feeding the life that comes after us, this comfort in shared pain nurtures deep compassion for our neighbors. We learn to love more deeply when we recognize joy and loss as equally important parts of the journey. We discover that we’re not alone in anything. But first, we must share what we know.
Everyone can write their own story. After all, only you know the gory glory of your life. Your experiences have shaped your values, fed your dreams, and guided your steps—and missteps. This collection of insights frames your legacy.
Legacy is the thing we leave behind. It’s more than stuff; it’s wisdom. Legacy work is the act of preserving the things, the wisdom, you’ve collected so far. Recipes, tall tales, shortcomings, adventures, triumphs, secrets: they come in different packages, uniquely you, yours for the giving.
Curiosity gets the better of the senses. What’s the worst that can happen anyway? Twitching fingers stretch toward a pen, a palm presses open a fresh page, and ink releases the letters like falling leaves. You didn’t even know you had it in you, this string of pearls, this narrative you’ve been crafting for decades. If you don’t share it, how will your children, grandchildren, or future global citizens know what you know?
Welcome to the season of reflection, the season of legacy work. Make yourself a cuppa tea, and use the pen to unearth the thoughts you store for that distant day when you’ll finally write the book, compile the cookbook, and record the notes you hope they remember about your life.
Whether you want to write your own story or need some encouragement with prompts or interviews, My Legacy Work is here to help. I’m Joy Martin, a writer, editor, and space holder, ready to gently guide you through one of the most gratifying experiences yet: your opportunity to celebrate and honor the life you’ve led so far.