We wake up, get work, go back home and rinse and repeat – or at least it feels that way sometimes. In truth, there are a million moments in between where we interact with others and we can’t help but wonder what folks will think about us once we aren’t showing up, perhaps once we are gone. Some very thoughtful members of the community share their thoughts on this with us below.
Marissa Hitt
There have been a lot of deaths in my family, but because we have a biblical, eternal perspective, we have an anchor. As a result, we, as a family, don’t avoid talking about things like funerals & what we want our legacies to be. Read More>>
Lauryn Kai
I hope people will share stories of my light, my passion, and how I made them laugh through my sheer authenticity—stories of how I made them feel something. Read More>>
Alicia Doyle
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is one of resilience, courage, and unyielding honor—a story of someone who faced life’s toughest battles with both fists and words, never backing down. Read More>>
May Sun
I always aimed to make the world a better place when I leave then when I found it, however small my contributions may be. Read More>>
Bobbi Jo Domitrovich
I hope that when I’m gone, I will be remembered as loving, caring, devoted. I want people to say that I made them feel special. That they felt seen and they mattered. Read More>>
Kimberlie Faybik
I hope people remember me as someone who helped others see the beauty inside theirselves. I hope I’ve made a positive impact in people’s lives. I hope my children remember how much I love them and how hard I worked to make sure the world didn’t darken their hearts. I also hope they saw that I failed many times but I never gave up. Read More>>
Jonathan Layssard
Deep Down The Kind Of Person & Heart That I Have…. I’ve learned throughout life people will forget what you’ve said. People will forget what you do. People will never forget how you make them feel. Read More>>
Lucie the Light Malette
That I did everything in my power to inspire, guide and be a purifying link to help women rise and embody their self-worth and believe in their valuable contribution. Read More>>
Nicole Zapoli
That hopefully I gave them hope to keep going in their own life. Read More>>
Nancy Dobbs Owen
I honestly do not care what people say about me when I am gone. What I do care about is what they feel now. Do they feel cared for? Do they feel seen? Do they feel that I am someone who will fight for their rights and defend them? Read More>>
Laura Stockton
In my weakness, He is strong.’ My life has been led by continuing to take steps of faith…in the dark, and God continues to use my shortcomings to bring about His plan…time and time again. The craziest example is how I met my husband. I saw him as a Starbucks barista with friends from Bible study, and truly saw a halo on his head, lol. Read More>>
Vanessa Eloriaga Matibag
I hope the story people tell about me is that I lived a life rooted in love, integrity, and purpose. That as a wife, I was a true partner—steady in the hard times, joyful in the good times, and always invested in building a life together. Read More>>
Tiffany Chi
I hope people say I captured life’s most meaningful moments with care and artistry, and that I helped families hold onto the love, joy, and connection that truly matter. I want to be remembered not just for the images I created, but for the way I made people feel seen, valued, and loved. Read More>>
Maleah Hamilton
I hope the story people tell about me when I am gone is my intentioned come up, the success and excitement from that first arrival. To my fall off, with the doubts, hardships, and learning i underwent to understand how I got there. Than to my reemergence that now has a new perseverance and discipline to continue in all its hesitations and uncertainty. Read More>>
Rachel Wood
At the end of the day, I just hope people say I was kind. That I cared deeply and made sure others felt it. Read More>>
Alyssa Caggiano
I hope people speak on my ability to help others. I’ve always felt that my purpose in life is to help others, so I know I succeeded in life if that’s my legacy. Read More>>
Rose ‘Photobombshell’ Mercado
I want people to remember that I made shit shake. That I didn’t just exist in the room; I shifted the energy, I built things that mattered, and I left people feeling seen and inspired. My story shouldn’t just be about the work I created, but about the way I moved through the world: with passion, intention, and love. Read More>>
Catherine Cox
I hope when I’m no longer here that people will realize and understand the challenges that I’ve been faced with and admire me for pushing through until the end. Reorganizing my priorities and starting over again & again in the face of adversity are things that I am deeply proud of. I hope that I am remembered for them for many years to come. Read More>>
Lauren O’Connor
The story I hope people tell after I’m gone is that I tried. That I worked tirelessly—not for recognition or personal gain—but to serve the community and, in whatever small way, the world. Read More>>
Yvette Sandoval
I hope people say that I built everything I touched with integrity, intention, and love. That I didn’t just create a product, but a movement—one that reminded people to slow down, honor themselves, and find beauty in the small rituals of everyday life. Read More>>
Ginger Terrell
When I’m gone, I hope people say that being around me made them feel seen, encouraged, and hopeful. Not because I had all the answers, or because I built the biggest empire, but because I brought fresh air into the room – I connected people, sparked ideas, and reminded them that beauty can be found even in hard places. Read More>>
Liliana Salazar
How my heARTwork made them FEEL. If you feel beautiful, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. Confidence in who you are is TRUE BEAUTY. Hence, my heARTwork honors you being YOU-nique — like each slice of real fruit! It is your YOU-niqueness that makes you one of a kind and irreplaceable, and when you own that, it becomes power — power that radiates and shines so brightly. Read More>>
Veronika
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone isn’t about titles or what I built, it’s about how I made them feel. I want people to say I made them feel celebrated, loved, and like they could do anything they set their mind to. Read More>>
SHE SHEE Caitlyn Foley
The story I would love to tell people when I’m gone is my art work. The colors, the movement, the outstanding images, my store. I would love to leave an impact on the world after I’m gone where it can continue on. To keep expressing my images throughout and helping artist live their passion through success even after my departure. Read More>>
Ann Selene
When my time here is done, I hope the story told of me is not one of perfection, but of courage. That I was a woman who walked through fire, who wrestled with shadows, and who refused to look away from the hard truths of life. I want people to say that I loved with abandon — fiercely, vulnerably, unapologetically. Read More>>
Cindy Bickman
When I’m gone, I know people will say that I love purple & hate pink! I hope they don’t tell the story of what it has been like for them to experience Chattooga & INCLUSION. I hope they live the story & keep spreading the word. Read More>>
Shenelle Roebuck
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I made a difference in the world through empowerment and wellness. That my integrity always spoke first, and that it was matched with care and compassion, even when I had to tell the truth in a way that wasn’t always easy to hear. Read More>>
Cherise Klosner
When I think about the story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone, it’s about authenticity, perseverance, and inclusion. Most importantly, I want my kids to see and understand that. Read More>>
Lisa Mayers
That I loved them. That everytime I saw them or was around them I told them I loved them. That I showered them with hugs and kisses like an old grandma does. That I told them the things they needed to hear in that moment. That I gave them a piece of me to always have. Read More>>
Denise Fleck
When my time on this earth is no more, I hope people will say she lived by her heart and gave love freely to those who needed her most, whether that be animal or fellow man. That even if it was uncomfortable, she stood up for what and who she believed in and honored her beliefs and morals. Read More>>
Ashley Hasty
I hope people remember me as someone who was kind and welcoming, who lifted others up and made space for them to shine. At the heart of everything I do—whether it’s through my blog, The Chicago Literary Salon, or simply in my everyday life—I want people to feel seen, included, and valued. Read More>>
Michael Litten
I lived the life I love and loved the life I lived. Read More>>
Raymond Karago
That I was a person who did his best to be good, that he tried to help others and be there for his loved ones. I would want to be remembered for standing up for what I believed in. I hope to be remembered as a great actor, writer, producer and more significantly that I helped create art that challenged norms, educated and inspired people. Read More>>
Author K Reshay
That I didn’t give up. That with every brick that was thrown, I made a castle. Resiliency is my legacy in this industry. Read More>>
Martha Santos
I hope people say that I cared, really cared. That I tried to leave more good in the world than I ever took from it. That I didn’t shy away from pain if carrying some of it meant someone else didn’t have to. Read More>>
Amber Kwong
I hope the story people tell about me is that I was someone who showed up with heart, passion, and integrity in everything I did. That I poured love and care into my work, uplifted others in the lash industry, and created spaces where people felt seen and valued. Read More>>
Hank Schyma
That I was able to have deep philosophical conversations with reptiles. Read More>>
ED KASHI
That I lived a life of purpose, integrity and contributed meaningful stories that helped make change, and that I loved my family, was a good mate to my wife, good father to my kids and left the world a better place. Read More>>
Jessica Valentine
I just hope that people see all the work I have done in trying to better the tattoo industry. I hope they can recognize that I am trying to be the change I want to see. That I have been very vulnerable for the greater good of future tattoo artists. That I really do practice what I preach. Read More>>
Emmy Young
I want to live with no regrets. Why would I care about singing karaoke in front of strangers when I am pretty sure I’ll never see them again? Why would I let people who don’t care, don’t even know me, dictate how I live my life? This is the mentality I have began my career with and still live by to this day. Read More>>
Sterling
It is my hope the people will say that I was a difference maker, a lover, a fighter. It is my hope they say I was real, that I am real and that I’ll always be there, protecting the forest and all the creatures that dwell there. Read More>>
Lisa Lofty
I would hope that people would see that I really tried to make a difference. I tried to open up spaces for women to bond and build. And that I tried to give women experiences that they may not have ever tried and enjoyed. Read More>>
Miles Brown
He was relentless in his efforts to be better than he was yesterday, motivating others along the way, always adding value and making people’s lives better. Read More>>
Sophia Louisa Lee
I hope people will say they were inspired. So many have inspired me, I hope I have done the same, and hope I always will. Read More>>
Tam (Lupie) McDonough
When I’m gone, I hope people tell the story of a woman who refused to be broken—who took her pain, her illness, and her battles, and turned them into purpose. I want them to say I was real, raw, and relentless in the way I loved, healed, spoke truth, and fought for others, especially those who felt unheard or unseen. Read More>>
Taylor Dunn
I hope people say I lived with purpose, that I didn’t just exist, but I showed up for life. I hope they say I paid attention to the world around me. That I captured beauty in places most people overlooked. That my art helped them feel something—stillness, peace, awe, or even just a reminder that life is worth noticing. Read More>>
Kat Ketter
The story I hope people know when I’m gone isn’t about titles, events, or accolades—it’s about how I made people feel seen and valued.. I hope they remember the way I showed up in rooms that were overlooked, how I created space where none existed, and how I never needed a spotlight to bring light to others. Read More>>
Design Besties
We hope that when we’re gone people will tell about how we changed the world one school at a time. That we touched the lives of the teachers parents staff and even the students at each campus. That teachers moods changed and test scores climbed as a result. That there was less turnover and teachers were happier at work and at home. Read More>>
Gerald Knight
I would hope people would tell my story as it relates to my faith in God. Anything I have ever done as it comes to my career, I make sure God is first! I also am a firm believer that if you help others God will reward you! I’ve help so many Djs and photographers position themselves in this business. Read More>>
Matt U Johnson
That I was a person who persevered through all the ups & down and never gave into the pressures of life no matter how hard a situation or circumstance. Read More>>
Mary Welp, CH
I hope people will talk about how all though I have done many things in my life, I did them all with gusto and my best effort. Whether as a pastry chef, a mother, a therapist, a horse trainer or a grandmother, I hope they say I tried my best and did all with love. Read More>>
Tamika Williams
As I mentioned earlier, my mom passed this past February and one of the things that we were adamant about was to celebrate her legacy. And something that people consistently said about my mom is that no matter what she would help you. Read More>>
Yaissa Montenegro
I hope people would say that I made them feel seen, supported, and empowered—that I didn’t just sell a policy, but that I showed up with heart. I want my story to be one of someone who truly cared, who led with purpose, and who used her voice and her work to help others protect what matters most. Read More>>
Laurie Lipton
I hope I’ve inspired other artists the way I’ve been inspired. I remember being brought into museums as a child and feeling so lit up… like my soul was eating light… by some of the works made by artists centuries ago. There is a golden thread of art that has been handed down since the dawn of civilization. Read More>>
