Legacy Letters

Articles Of Interest

Sample Legacy Letter Openers
 

Sample Legacy Letters Openers

**About to be Grandmother

To My Granddaughter: “……….there are many questions I have about my grandmother, things I would really liked to have asked…….I loved my Nona very much and she loved me. ………She wanted to know all about me, my needs, dreams and desires, and I never thought to ask about her dreams when she was young.  So now I think is a good time to write to you, my future granddaughter, before I get too busy fussing over you…….. Now is a good time to tell you about me, and maybe a little about my Nona, your great grandmother.”

**A Father in His 50’s

“It is my hope in writing my ethical will that I will be able to record for posterity some of my values and visions for the future. I hope this will help each of you as you plan and carry out your life.  In my studies of leaving a legacy, I was reminded how important it is for parents and grandparents to share and record what is important to them.  For posterity’s sake, I have attempted to record some of my experiences and what I believe in, some history of what I have done with my life, and lessons I have learned along the way.” 

Single Woman Without Children  TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS

“It is with an open heart that I write this letter to you who have been my anchors in life, As a single woman without children, it is especially important for me to leave something meaningful behind. I want you to know not only what you have meant to me and what I have learned from you, but who I am beyond what you may already know. I hope you will read this letter with open hearts as well and understand the importance of my being a lasting memory for you and those who come after. “

                                    * (from my letter)

**Father Writing to His Adult Children
 

“First of all I want you to know how important all of you are in my life journey and how much I love you.  It was seldom that my full-blooded Irish father said the words “I love you” but we never doubted it for an instant.  I am sorry that you, Michelle (Mik) and Dan (Daniel Patrick Joseph Paul) never knew you Irish Grandpa but your good humor and hard work carry on his spirit and the gleam in his eye is there in each of yours.  I have tried hard to be a conduit to you from him.”

 

**Wife with Serious Illness Writing to Her Husband
 

“I'm writing this to let you know what is in my heart.  Yes, you know I love you and you mean the world to me, but I'm not sure you know how much or why.  You also know that I sometimes have difficulty speaking aloud what I feel in my heart because the words become jumbled on my tongue.  Since I'm a writer, I will put in words what I cannot say in voice. You have taught me many things during our twenty-nine years together, the greatest being love.”
 

**  From Dr. Barry Baines Web site: www.EthicalWill.com
 

Values Writing from My Workshops

The Gift of Volunteering

“I have found great joy in volunteering and being active in our parish of St. Patrick’s.  It is an extended family for me and John.  One of my most rewarding moments has been joining my husband in babysitting for a stressed out family.  We sit 2 hours a week with twins, Domenic and Geanna.  We hold them close, smile, hug, kiss, and cry just looking at ourselves, each holding a baby.  It is wonderful to be old sometimes.  Nothing feels better than doing for others.”     I.B.

Community

“We have been so blessed by this tall, old maple on the corner, and by our neighbors, the_____.

I hope that your lives will be blessed by more splendid trees near your homes, and neighbors as

loving…. I hope that you will live long enough in a neighborhood, to see the trees grow old, and the seasons turn again and again, and a family grow up through the years.  These are some simple riches that life gives us, for putting down roots in neighborhood and growing old with it.”   Nancy.F.

Compassion

“Deep compassion takes wisdom that sees the wider view, that sees strengths where only weakness is visible, that sees dangers where only security is in the foreground.  To develop this attitude of wise courageous compassion takes practice, trial and error.  Like everything worthwhile it is hard work.  If you don't exercise the muscle of compassion, it won't be there when you need it for others and for yourself.”  Doug.B.