When you hear the word legacy, you probably think of something left behind—like a gift for future generations. But here’s something surprising: reflecting on your own values and life stories doesn’t just benefit the future—it can create stronger, more meaningful relationships today.

The end of the year (or the start of a new one) is the perfect time to pause and reflect. When we share our stories and life lessons, we give the people around us a window into who we are. Think about the last time you told a funny childhood memory or shared a lesson you learned the hard way. Didn’t it spark a connection? Maybe it led to laughter or an “ah-ha” moment that brought you closer to someone.

Science backs this up. Studies show that self-reflection helps us understand ourselves and strengthens the bonds we have with others (American Psychological Association, 2021). When we open up about what has shaped us—whether it’s a family tradition, a mistake that taught us resilience, or the values that guide us—we’re not just sharing facts. We’re building empathy and a sense of shared history.

In fact, research reveals that nearly 7 out of 10 people feel a stronger sense of belonging when they talk openly about their experiences and values (Pew Research, 2022). At a time when real connection can feel harder to find, reflecting on your life and sharing those reflections is like offering an invitation: This is who I am. Let’s understand each other better.

Recently my husband shared a remarkable childhood story with his three year old grandson who is presently learning how to swim but mostly wants to just fool around in the water. When my husband was almost four years old on holiday with his family in Saranac Lake, New York, without telling anyone where he was going he had walked into the lake, without knowing how to swim, wearing his baseball cap. Fortunately, his father suddenly spotted his baseball cap floating – with him under it– drowning! The next day, he was enrolled in swimming lessons. His grandson was wide-eyed and asked why he did that. His response was, “I wanted to go for a walk into the water, but I learned quickly that you have to learn how to swim before you try any water activities”. Since hearing that story, his grandson is taking swimming lessons much more seriously. And as an aside, later in life my husband became Head of Waterfront at a summer camp!

Legacy work isn’t just about leaving behind a record of your life. It’s about creating a bridge—a way to connect with those you love on a deeper level. And isn’t that what we all want? To feel seen, heard, and truly known?

So, as the year winds down, take a moment to reflect on your journey. Share a story. Pass on a piece of wisdom. You might be surprised at how it strengthens the relationships that matter most to you right now.

In the tapestry of life, there’s a unique thread woven with laughter, wisdom, and endless love—the bond between grandparents and grandchildren. This relationship, often described as one of life’s greatest treasures, holds the key to a wealth of untold stories and valuable lessons shared. It’s the connection that transcends generations, nurturing the roots of our family tree.

But have you ever considered asking your grandchildren to interview you? Akin to conducting an “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) session with a real-life sage—you.

In today’s fast-paced world, where the answers to any question are often just a click away, the art of conversing — even with grandparents — sometimes takes a back seat. However, there’s magic in those conversations that cannot be replicated by searching online.

We recently directed and recorded an AMA interview session between a 70+ year old client and his young adult 20+ year old grandchild. My crew and I were all moved by the profound impact of the experience, as we watched it unfold for them. As they embarked on their AMA journey, we discovered an even deeper connection and a newfound appreciation that was evident for each other.

The questions asked were not just about the past but also about aspirations, dreams, life lessons and hopes for the future. The result? An amazing recorded video conversation – originally intended to be 30-40 minutes, ended up being close to 90 minutes– and it all felt like 5 minutes! The discussions, touching moments, and even shared laughter left an indelible mark on both of them, as they told me afterwards. And without any prompting from me– the grandchild declared how grateful he was to now have this legacy video as something to show his grandchildren one day!

So, dear grandparents, consider this: seize the opportunity to invite your grandchildren to embark on their own “Ask Me Anything” adventure with you. Let the magic of storytelling and shared experiences bridge the generational gap. Encourage them to capture these precious moments using their smartphone cameras, for in the years to come, these recordings will be cherished heirlooms (as long as they remember to back them up)!

In a world of constant change, the bond between grandparents and grandchildren remains a steadfast anchor. It’s a timeless connection that only grows richer with each shared story. Embrace the unique opportunity to have your grandchildren ask you about your life, for your words are more than answers—they are the keys to understanding your family’s legacy.

The desire to be remembered is both elemental and universal. Since time immemorial oral histories, diaries, memoirs and more recently, photographs and video have been used to preserve the memories of their authors. Today, we collect and curate our memorabilia more extensively than ever before. By doing this we not only preserve our memories, but in addition our online activity is actually recording present-day living.

Andy Warhol was once noted for saying “In the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” In his 2013 TED Talk Your Online Life, Permanent as a Tattoo, Futurist Juan Enriquez posits, what if Warhol had that backwards? What if, due to our online activity, all we get is 15 minutes of anonymity? It’s an interesting premise and one well worth examining.

Enriquez calls our digital footprint ‘electronic tattoos’. Like permanent designs on our skin, our online activity tells a very detailed and intimate story of our lives. The main difference, however, is that electronic tattoos will outlive our physical bodies.

Traditional preservation methods have allowed the storyteller to tell his story in his own time and his own way. Now big data collected from our tens of thousands of online interactions permits those who have access to them to make decisions about us in real time. This has never happened at any other time in history. Our digital footprint is constantly being analysed and the data used to provide information about us for job and college applications, dating prospects, even shopping experiences, amongst a plethora of other purposes.

And no matter our caution, facial recognition software like Face.com purchased by Facebook in 2012, have databases with over 18 billion faces and allows our identification through photos potentially captured by third parties in public spaces. All this is recorded and potentially accessible forever.

With this in mind, Enriquez encourages us to follow these timeless lessons:

1. Take care in what you post
2. Don’t go looking too far into the past of those you love
3. Remember the purpose of your posts
4. Don’t “fall in love with your own reflection”

At the intersection of the need for privacy and the desire to be remembered lies the wisdom of knowing what we want to be remembered for and the discipline of leaving only that as our digital tattoo. With technology now active in people’s’ lives from birth, today’s challenge is to use this wisdom for ourselves. We need to teach the value of discretion and privacy as foresight to our families and to those who are unwise in this regard.

Remember- think before you post! Be wary of the digital legacy you leave…

Happy Holidays and Peace to all,

Iris and her team at Memoirs Productions