When Kyle Martin learned he was in the running for valedictorian of his graduating class, he decided to go for it. “It felt so good when I heard my name announced for this title. So good—for about 15 seconds,” he said in his graduation speech. “But there must come a 16th second. And in that 16th second…I thought, that’s it?”
In the rest of the speech—which has over 24 million views on YouTube and is well worth 8 minutes of your time—Kyle shared that achieving valedictorian came at the expense of relationships in his life. “A lesson learned should be a lesson shared: Have no regrets in the 16th second. Nothing is more important than your healthy relationships.”
Like Kyle, we all have lessons to share. They can run the gamut from “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” to your discovery that putting in the effort is often more important than the final outcome. Some of that learning probably came easily; some of it was downright painful.
How will you share your life lessons with your loved ones? One approach is to create a Legacy Love Letter. Sometimes called an Ethical Will, a Legacy Love Letter is an opportunity to share hard-won wisdom, beliefs you want your loved ones to know, even funny stories from your childhood. Use the following prompts to get started:
What do you believe? What values are the most important to you? What principles guide you when it comes to marriage, children, serving others, stewarding finances, etc.?
What have you learned? Include stories about life-defining moments and what you learned from them. Highlight the people and experiences that shaped you.
What do your loved ones need to know? Let your loved ones know about the difference they’ve made in your life. And don’t forget to make apologies and amends where they’re needed.
What really matters? Share inspiring books and quotes. Write a message of hope and encouragement for your family and friends.
The lessons you’ve learned are a priceless legacy. Don’t miss the opportunity to pass them on to those you care about most.