A LEGACY OF TRUST
By Lea Brovedani
ON BIG BLEND RADIO: Lea Brovedani talks about creating a legacy of trust. Watch here in the YouTube player or download the podcast on PodBean.
I stood at the gravesite and watched as my grandfather’s coffin was slowly lowered into the ground. The cemetery was beside the small country church that I attended when I visited my grandparents at their farm for my summer holidays. Grandpa Miller lived a simple life, but he left a powerful legacy.
What I loved was how he laughed. His shoulders would bounce up and down, but you didn’t hear a guffaw. His eyes twinkled and you’d hear a rhythmic exhalation of his breath rather than a hahaha”. You could feel rather than hear his laughter.
He left a legacy of trust, integrity, and honour when he died and I’m sure he would have been humbled had he known the impact he had on the people he met.
I listened as friends and neighbours shared memories of him. “You could always count on Mr. Miller. He was there when you needed him.” “Honest as the day is long” “Loved his family”. “Hard worker”. “Built that farm from nothing”.
The life you live is the legacy you leave.
There is an exercise I have used in leadership training where I ask participants to write their eulogy. I ask, “What is it you want people to say about you when you die?” The point of the exercise is to realize that actions today create the legacy of tomorrow.
What about you? What would you write? Stop reading for a moment and write yours.
What did you say? Leaving a positive impact on the world is a natural human desire. Whether we aim to be remembered for our accomplishments, talents, or character, the legacy we leave behind says a lot about who we are and how we walk through the world now.
I’m starting a new chapter as an end-of-life doula and my work in trust and emotional intelligence has been preparing me for this. I’ve listened as people talk about what has been important to them in their life.
I don’t remember anyone telling me they were proud of how much they accumulated.
How do you want to be remembered?
I imagine you want the people you love and care about to remember the imprint you left on their hearts and soul. How you were someone they could trust.
Caring is the first tenet of trust. When you show that you care, and genuinely care about someone they feel seen, heard, and valued. Caring involves listening, empathizing, and showing compassion toward others.
Start there. Show you care.
The life you live is the legacy you leave.
Lea Brovedani is a speaker and workshop facilitator on trust who is recognized as a Top Thought Leader on Trust for by the organization Trust Across America and is the author of “TRUST Me – Restore Belief & Confidence in an Uncertain World” and “TRUSTED – Secret Lessons from an Inspired Leader.” Lea appears on Big Blend Radio every third Thursday. More: https://leabrovedani.com/
Lea is also an end-of-life doula. Learn more at https://souljourneydoula.com/
