One of the Greatest Legacies You Can Leave: Your Life Story

At some point in our lives, many of us begin to think about our legacy - something of value that we will pass on to members of our family, organizations and institutions that we hold dear, or society as a whole. The very thought of this can be quite overwhelming, and it's all-too-easy to focus exclusively on tangible items such as money, property or personal possessions. While these are all worthwhile things to consider, there is a legacy that you can leave that will cost you absolutely nothing: your own personal life story.

Whether it appears in the form of written autobiographical accounts, details that you pass down orally to your children and grandchildren about your life, or stories that you share publicly about the obstacles you have overcome, your life story can leave a lasting legacy long after you have taken your last breath on this earth. You may think that if you're not rich or famous, no one will want to know your story. But this couldn't be farther from the truth.

The average adult human being has already lived a best seller. Everyone has interesting (if not complex) family histories, personal struggles and victories, and stories of love lost and found. And while you may not necessarily be famous in the eyes of the media or the masses, there's someone out there who would love to learn more about you.

You do not have to be an accomplished writer or motivational speaker to tell your story. You do not have to have a squeaky-clean, skeleton-free life history (who really does, anyway?). You only need to have a reasonably good memory and a sufficient amount of courage.

The courage to tell one's life story is not always easy to muster. Fear of being too vulnerable and exposing oneself or those one loves can sometimes be crippling. Telling one's story can also be a painful process - at least in the beginning. But what a shame it would be to withhold information about your life that could have possibly saved someone else's, healed a broken heart, inspired someone to aim higher, or helped an organization to move forward and grow.

If you have never considered telling your life story - whether in written or oral form - you might want to give it some thought. Don't wait until you have "arrived" (reached that mythical place in life where you have become all that you can be and accomplished all that you can achieve). As human beings, we are all imperfect, we are all works in progress, and we all have stories to tell at this very moment that can make a difference in the lives of others.