Who knows what the world will be like 50 or 100 years from now. Will robots do everything for us? Will work be optional?
Whatever the future holds, human life will still have certain trials and triumphs. There will still be broken hearts. Still be bad decisions. There will still be good decisions and sudden successes. Struggles, humor, love.
We'll still ask ourselves what is important in life.
After all your years of living, do you have an answer to that question?
New Year's is a great time to write a legacy letter to your children or grandchildren, spouse, mentors, close friends, future generations. Write it, keep it where it will be found, and add to it next year.
Katheen M. Rehl, writing for Sixty and Me, says the first step is to decide to whom you will write and address the letter specifically to that person. Tell them why you are writing to them.
Next, adopt a thankful tone and tell the recipient what you are grateful about him or her.
In the next paragraphs, tell what one big lesson you learned in life.
Tell what you think matters most in life. What do you value most?
Tell something about yourself. You might consider what you wish you knew about people in your family tree. Answer those questions about yourself. Tell some stories about the ancestor you knew about. Tell the family stories.
In your closing, give your readers your love. Tell them what your hope for them. Offer encouragement.
You can write more than one legacy letter and write to more than one person. You might even want to record a video. The key is to search your heart and try to send your thoughts and wisdom to the next generation.
If you like crafts, buy a box to hold your letter, or letters, and decorate it. Put in some family items.