The Legacybuiler Scrapbook. Introduction

Transcription

1 Introduction To live, to love, to learn, and to leave a legacy - four human needs identified by Stephen Covey in his book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. This scrapbook has been created to support you in the fourth of these, the leaving of a legacy, an emotional legacy. The word "legacy" is often used and understood in a narrow and restrictive way, referring to tangible assets. Our focus is upon a much broader, and we believe more important, concept, which we call an emotional legacy. A Will enables us to pass along our material possessions, our money, house, car, art and other personal goods at the time of our passing. But is that all we are and all we have to pass on at the end of our human existence? An emotional legacy, by comparison, is concerned with who we really are, not what we have accumulated in the external world. The way we will be remembered will be dependent on the way we have lived our lives, privately and in public. Each day we have an opportunity to shape our emotional legacy and make a new deposit to it. How do you want to be remembered? Have we done the things in life we really want to do and do we share our thoughts, hopes and dreams with others? Do we know what makes our heart sing and is that something we keep secret? The Legacybuilder Scrapbook is a tool for recording and passing on the intangibles of our lives - our words of love, history (or her-story), wishes, dreams, passions, memories, aspirations, inspirations, sentiments, etc. For some the Scrapbook allows the communication of "I love you" in a way that you may be unable to express in life directly.

2 The purpose of The Legacybuilder Scrapbook is three-fold. First, it is an introduction to what an emotional legacy is. It is a documenting of your life and can be stored with your will and other important papers in a safe and secure place, or gifted at any point in time. Secondly, the Scrapbook is a base from which further work relating to the creation of an emotional legacy can take place. And thirdly, The Legacybuilder Scrapbook is a vehicle to assist you in living more consciously and to help you express your joy and pleasure, thus bringing healing and closure to areas of your life. It will assist you to live, to love and to learn in a more fulfilling way. It is your choice as to whether or not this is a one-time project, or a continuing process. Share your creation with loved ones, friends and neighbors. Encourage them to create their own emotional legacy. It is never too soon or too late, as The Legacybuilder Scrapbook can be an ongoing process rather than a "one-off" project for completion. In today's world of blended families and diverse social structures, not all topics are applicable to everyone. Feel free to add and delete as seems appropriate to you. You may enhance your personal Legacybuilder Scrapbook by adding pictures, photos, clip art etc. using the Insert function of the software or by removing pages that you feel do not apply to you. We encourage you to personalize the scrapbook to truly make the scrapbook a one of a kind treasure book for you, friends and family to enjoy over and over again.

3 Table of Contents Section 1 Who am I? and Who I am! Section 2 Memories and Mementos Section 3 My Emotional Legacy Section 4 Finishing Businesses

4 The Legacybuiler Scrapbook

5 Section 1 Who am I? The question of, "Who Am I?" has been asked throughout the ages. Human beings are complex. Are we merely a physical description? Are we our thoughts and experiences? Are we bodies of energy or spiritual beings? Are we our belief system? Are we our social and genetic inheritance? In his book, "I'm OK, You're OK", Thomas A. Harris, M.D. states that by the time we are seven years of age, 90% of the beliefs we hold have been implanted into our minds. Only conscious questioning and re-programming will change these beliefs. The reality is that we are all of the above. This section of The Legacybuilder Scrapbook allows us to document the information as to "Who I am" in our own words. We are all unique, with different beginnings and pasts. This is our opportunity to gather this information before it is lost or forgotten. No one has a crystal ball as to where life will go from this day forward. However, today we can take this opportunity to document the past and create a vehicle for recording events as they happen throughout our journey.

6 FROM: DATE: FOR: Address: Telephone: Name at Birth: Date and time of Birth: My Mother's Name: My Mother's Maiden Name: My Father's Name: My Hair and Eye Colours: My Height:

7 My Family Tree

8 (a) Genetic Inheritance(s) Family Health History (b) My Own Illnesses, Injuries and Strengths of Note

9 Where I have lived (Feel free to make comments as you add the factual data, e.g., what do you particularly remember about each residence?) Address City/Town Prov./State Country Yrs.

10 My Schools, Colleges, Universities (List any achievements, degrees, etc., favourite subjects and teachers worthy of note.) Institution Location Yrs.

11 Qualifications/Training Skills Developed (Don't forget to include non-vocational skills such as playing musical instruments, sewing, woodworking, painting, dancing, etc.)

12 Where I Have Worked/Volunteered Place Employer Position/Job Yrs.

13 Where I Have Worked /Volunteered Place Employer Position/Job Yrs.

14 My Personal Mission or Life Purpose Statement A Mission or Life Statement is a concise statement professing what we see our life's purpose or aim. It reflects the values and ideas by which you live your life. As one person put it, "If life were a table, what would be its four supporting legs?"

15 Some of My Favourites (a) Hobbies, Pastimes

16 Some of My Favourites (b) Music, Songs, Singers, Composers

17 Some of My Favourites (c) Books, Poems, Magazines, Comic Books

18 Some of My Favourites (d) Movies, Plays, TV Shows, Actors

19 Some of My Favourites (e) Foods, Drinks, Restaurants, Bars, Pubs

20 Some of My Favourites (f) Jokes

21 Some of My Favourites (g) Sports

22 Section 2 Memories and Mementos We are all unique gifts and treasures to the world. Our memories are one of the keys to this uniqueness. No other individual in the world has the same thoughts and memories as you do. This Section allows you to document these special memories that are truly yours. In doing so you create mementos to be treasured by others. People have said that one of the most important things others can share with them are specific memories relating to that person. As an example, a son can share his memories of a camping trip with his father detailing what the trip meant for him.

23 What I Remember About My (a) Childhood

24 What I Remember About My (b) School Years

25 What I Remember About My (c) Days at Work

26 (d) Holidays and Travels What I Remember About My

27 (e) Unusual Things/Happenings Memories

28 Memories (f) Life-Influencing/Changing Experiences

29 Memories (f) Favourite Pets

30 Memories (h) Favourite Sports

31 Memories (i) The Best Times/Experiences of My Life

32 Memories (j) People Who Have Influenced Me

33 Memories (k) Unforgettable Characters I Have Met

34 Some of My (l) Difficult/Frightening Experiences

35 (m) Places That Are Special to Me Some of My

36 Some of My (n) Achievements and Accomplishments

37 (o) Hopes, Dreams, Aspirations Some of My

38 Some of My (p) Seldom Expressed Thoughts, Secrets, or Regrets

39 (q) Social/Political Thoughts Some of My

40 (r) Spiritual/Religious Beliefs Some of My People Who Have Influenced My Spiritual Journey

41 Section 3 My Emotional Legacy There are four unique human endowments, which separate us from the animal kingdom. They are self-awareness, conscience, creative imagination and independence. Self-awareness is our ability to stand apart from ourselves and examine our thinking and emotions. In Section 3 we detail memories and emotions we have about loved ones. This section is truly about healing and closure. Healing in that we are able to use our unique human endowments to examine our past and to say things to people whom, for whatever reason, are no longer with us or near us. Life is a precious thing. We have all experienced loss in one way or another. The fact that anyone will be here tomorrow is far from guaranteed. The completion of Section 3 allows for closure for those we leave behind. It allows us to leave a legacy of loving memories. Our loved ones will be able to keep the Scrapbook for the rest of their lives and it may be passed on to subsequent generations. This Section allows you to create this type of legacy for all those close to you.

42 For My Wife/Husband/Partner Special Words and Messages

43 Special Words and Messages for Children * We suggest that you address each of your children individually by name to give each his/her own legacy. For: Name of son/daughter

44 Special Words and Messages for Children For: Name of son/daughter

45 Special Words and Messages for Children For: Name of son/daughter

46 Special Words and Messages For My Mother

47 Special Words and Messages For My Father

48 Special Words and Messages For My Sister(s)

49 Special Words and Messages For My Brother(s)

50 Special Words and Messages For My Maternal Grandparents For My Paternal Grandparents

51 For My Grandchildren Special Words and Messages

52 For Other Relatives and Friends Special Words and Messages

53 What I Want You to Remember About Me

54 What I Would Like Said About Me

55 Section 4 Finishing Business This Section focuses upon information required at the time of your passing. The passing of anyone we love and who was dear to us is difficult. Completion of this Section will make tasks much easier for those who have been designated to handle your final arrangements. The preparation of these items will allow for the grieving process to be more effectively handled by your loved ones if the administrative issues are planned for in advance.

56 Family and Friends to be Notified

57 Location of Important Papers and Documents

58 Business Matters (We suggest that you seek professional advice when dealing with these important issues.) My Lawyer: My Bank/Credit Union/Trust Co.: My Financial Advisor: My Accountant: My Doctor(s): My Minister/Priest/Rabbi: My Funeral Director:

59 My Desired Funeral Arrangements

60 My Desired Service Arrangements

61 Epilogue Congratulations!!! The completion of The Legacybuilder Scrapbook represents the creation of your own "personal history". For generations to come a loved one will be able to receive the legacy you have created. They will have a glimpse of who you truly are, from what makes you tick to what you believed to be important, to places you have been, and food and drink you have enjoyed. Nothing in life is more rewarding as the knowledge that we have contributed to the world. The completion of the Scrapbook can leave something of you for generations to come. Celebrate its existence! The Scrapbook may be a keepsake, which will far outlive any financial or tangible gift. For, once a thought is placed in the mind, it is eternally yours. Memories of friends and families will outlast material things.