Write Your Own Eulogy to See Your True Legacy

In a sunlit room, you find an old photograph of someone you barely recognize—a younger you, smiling unworried. The scent of fresh paper drifts as you place a blank sheet on your lap. Under soft light, you write, “I want my family to remember how I showed up with an open heart.” Your pen hovers, and for a moment, you sense a gentle sorrow: How close am I to the memory I imagine?

Later, you press your palms together, feel your breath, and picture a gathering of loved ones sharing stories about you. They speak of kindness, patience, or that one time you sang silly songs at a daughter’s recital. Each detail echoes in your mind, sharpening your sense of purpose.

Neuroscientists refer to ‘episodic simulation’—the brain’s ability to imagine future events, laying down the same neural pathways as if it were real. Using this power, you’ve built a mental rehearsal of your legacy.

You open your eyes and realize this exercise is more than words on a page. It’s a compass pointing to daily actions that align with who you want to be. Grateful and inspired, you fold the note and tuck it where you’ll see it often, letting it guide your next choices.

You list who matters most, write the one sentence you hope each person speaks at your farewell, weave those into a present-tense eulogy, and sit quietly picturing loved ones speaking your legacy aloud. Keep it where you’ll see it every day.