How Do You Want To Be Remembered?

A simple question, hey?

How do you want to be remembered?

I remember the first time I was asked this question and to be honest I didn’t know what to say, I was clueless.

In fact, I would say not many people would know what to say if asked this question.

The more I get into personal development and the more I read and write and work with my clients for confidence and success the more I use and hear the word, legacy.

A legacy is leaving our mark on this planet for years after we have gone.

If you aren’t a Spanish native speaker you mightn’t know what my surname means, Vence literally can mean two things: to expire (not really the meaning I want TBH) or to conquer (that’s more like it!).

So, after 2000 when I learned to be kind to myself, to accept myself, to dream and to love myself and I started to say the following mantra to myself: Your name is Jorge Vence and it has been given to you for a reason, so honour it.

I did and continue to do just that (after 2000 obviously).

Also, you might know this old Latin quote: "Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came; I saw; I conquered") which is popularly attributed to Julius Caesar.

In my early 20’s I decided to take a few months off and go travelling, I wanted to see the world and have fun.

One of the things I did (which I hope must people do) was to send a postcard to myself back home and they would read: To Jorge Vence – Veni, Vidi, Vici – From Jorge Vence.

From that moment I decided that was the way I wanted to be remembered.

I want people and the world to remember me for how I touched their lives, how I left them feeling better than before they came to me and met me; how I saw the world, its magic and made the most of every second of life given to me and lastly, how I conquered my fears, my worries, my doubts, my limiting beliefs and how I kept going, till the very end.

This I want to be my legacy to the world.

I want to share a couple of things with you, my surname was given to me by my step father, great surname to be given TBH (Gonzalez is a bit overrated!).

The other thing is my surname, originates from France from the French Riviera, in a small walled city just outside Nice, which I have been blessed to visit.

Perhaps, you will remember how we tell ourselves stories about ourselves and the world and anything, really.

Just the very fact that I learned that the real meaning of my surname wasn’t to conquer but something else didn’t stop me from telling myself that my surname is a reminder of what I am meant to do and achieve in this life.

So, the way I want to be remembered and what I want engraved on my tombstone is as follows: Jorge Vence, Vini, Vidi, Vici, lived his life to the fullest and truly honoured his surname.

How do you want to be remembered?

What will your legacy be?

What do you want engraved on your tombstone?

Please let me know on the comments section.

Till next time,

Jorge