What Will Your Legacy Be?

Grandma Margaret Brandley Larsen passed away last week at age 85, married for 61 years… leaving a large family– 10 children, 50 grand-children, and 37 great-grandchildren! I was one of the lucky ones to be married into the family–as she’s my husband’s grandmother. We have lived 10 minutes from her home since we got married and often spent time there with our children. We’ll miss her greatly. I want to spend just a moment honoring this beautiful woman who touched so many lives.

Here’s a few things I’ve learned and appreciated about Grandma:

• She had a passion for learning her whole life through. She memorized many poems and quoted them to us as a family during times of travel, work, or when we needed an uplifting message. Even though she married after her freshman year of college she was diligent in completing her undergraduate degree and also a master’s degree.
• She was charitable–always more concerned about others than herself. She often called to say, “I’m thinking of you…how are you doing?” (and we were one of her many, many relatives!) She remembered birthdays and important events in our lives. She made herself available to help and serve whenever possible, she loved tending children
• She accepted life’s challenges and saw them as opportunities for growth…even with cancer she was optimistic and courageous. She had a great deal of faith and trust.
• She organized amazing family gatherings, including children’s parades, easter egg hunts, games, and art projects, and taught us about our ancestors
• She always expressed her love for us and made us feel cherished by telling us specifically things that she appreciated or valued

Today’s Magic Wand: Although we’re all trying to create powerful, uplifting businesses that leave a legacy, let’s remember that it’s our families…our friends…our loved ones that matter most. Let’s make sure we schedule time to make phone calls to our grandmas, our aunts, our children…and visit them as often as we can.