The Sage Connection

On the importance of leaving a legacy

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An article in the recent issue of Grand Magazine addressed leaving a legacy for our loved ones. Actually, two legacies, each in in the form of wills; one dealing with your material and monetary belongings and the other with the values you want to leave to your loved ones.

I love this idea.

The article, “Why We Need to Gather the Wisdom of Elders,” was written by Ken Dychtwald, the futurist and writer you might remember as the author of the book, Age Wave. About 15 years ago, his research and consulting firm, also called Age Wave, conducted a large-scale study on inheritance.

They quickly discovered that participants in the focus groups didn’t want to talk about inheritance; they said it conjured up morbid images of death and the unpleasant tasks of dividing up money and property, subjects they didn’t want to think, let alone talk about.

Dychtwald suggested that the focus group moderator substitute the word “legacy” for “inheritance.”

The moderator asked participants if anyone wanted to either give or receive a legacy, and the floodgates opened. Everyone wanted to share their thoughts and feelings on the importance of receiving and leaving a legacy.

Dychtwald states the following: “Our research on the topic then revealed that as far back as a thousand years ago, some religious traditions believed that as people reach their older years, they should create two wills:

  • a 'material will,' in which you express your wishes regarding the distribution of your material possessions and money to family and community, and
  • an 'ethical will,' in which you gather the key values and life lessons you want to share with your children, grandchildren and future generations”.

There are five generations currently living under our roof and it seems every time I suggest something about anything, I am told they have looked it up on Google and already have the answer.

Outwitted by a nameless, faceless technical non-being is not a good feeling and I often wonder how I got to be this old without learning anything about life.

My grandchildren have actually said they think it is amazing my children survived their childhood, minus head protectors, seat belts, car seats up to the age of five or 40 pounds, elbow and knee pads for tricycles; the list is endless.

The new diseases that have popped up are also endless. I am not allowed to kiss the grandbabies on their foreheads or cheeks – there is a disease this can spread. I don’t even know the name of the disease. Water intake has to be monitored so their electrolytes aren’t disturbed…and on and on and on.

Hello! It is my generation that is living longer than any that came before it, so we must have done something right.

I really hope that there are such things as benign ghosts. Some day far in the future, I would love to be able to pop down and silently watch and listen when it is their turn to be the old know-nothing.

But I would probably give myself away by laughing too loud…

Kathleen Anderson writes this column each week from her home in Olympia.  Contact her at  kathleen@theJOLTnews.com or post your comment below.

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  • Drutty

    I love your healthy attitude as you embrace all generations. An "ethical will" sounds like a wonderful idea for us "older folks"~!

    Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Report this

  • olyhiker

    Great idea. I needed that.

    Thursday, June 16, 2022 Report this