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.
Ritu Raj
I hope people say that I had the courage to begin again—that I didn’t let success in one world prevent me from seeking truth in another. That after years of being an entrepreneur and executive, I chose to listen to the quiet voice I’d once silenced, the one that spoke in color, form, and feeling. Read more>>
Mars Kidd
I hope people tell the story of a man who never stopped believing — in God, in purpose, and in people. Someone who turned pain into purpose and used his voice to inspire others to find strength in their own storms. I want people to say that Mars Kidd didn’t just make music — he made impact. Read more>>
Anne Plaisance
I hope people say that I used my art — and my voice — to make the invisible visible. That I turned pain into beauty, and silence into connection. That I showed what happens when women reclaim their stories and transform wounds into wisdom. I don’t care if they remember the awards, the exhibitions, or even my name. Read more>>
Natalie Hope McDonald
I think most of would like to be remembered. I’d like my art to stick around ,long after my physical self is gone. It’s the most authentic expression of who I was, am and will be. Read more>>
Mai Ling Chan
People often tell me that they admire the breadth and speed of my accomplishments, but my greatest hope is that they will understand the common thread of where my focus has been throughout the years – Mai Ling was dedicated to helping people in the disability community expand their reach through a variety of opportunities. That’s really the point of all that I do. Read more>>
Christie Becker
I’d want people to say that I had integrity – that I did what I believed was right when it wasn’t easy or even recognized. To me, life is about relationships: building them, nurturing them, making them stronger over time. That takes real work, and sometimes it means unlearning the ways we’ve been groomed to people-please our way into fake connections. Read more>>
Jenelle Simpson
I hope people say I lived a life that made others believe healing was possible. That I turned my pain into purpose and used my voice to help free others to do the same. I want them to remember that I didn’t just talk about transformation, I embodied it, even when it cost me comfort, approval, or understanding, and relationships. Read more>>
David Enrique Rojas Sierra
That I left the world better than I found it, that I did everything I could to help everyone who asked me for help, and that, above all else, I always tried to be the best person I could be, that when I loved, I did so unreservedly, and that I tried to be good. Read more>>
Shundilyn Smith
When I am gone and no longer here, I hope people tell my story the correct way. The good, the bad and the ugly. I hope people talk about my struggles, and how they almost broke me. Read more>>
Heather Murphy Capps
I hope people will say that I was brave, pursued big dreams, and persisted in talking about hard things even when it wasn’t safe or politically palatable to do so. I hope my children will tell the story of a mother who loved them fiercely, was willing to take a deep breath and face tough challenges, and made and kept friends for a lifetime. Read more>>
Amber Bogan
I hope people say that I lived a life that made others feel seen, loved, and inspired. That I used my gifts to bring joy, affirm identity, and open doors for others. Read more>>
Steven ‘Cherokee’ Young
The story I would hope people tell about me when i’m gone is, let it be known that though he faced the lowest of lows, he never gave up. He rose from his struggles with determination and purpose, building a legacy his family can be proud of. Read more>>
