#31DayReset Day 30: Write Your Own Eulogy

This post is Day 30 of the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge for 2011. Learn more and sign up for the program here.

OK, so before we get started, I just want to acknowledge that today’s assignment may seem a little morbid. Especially after the bucket list exercise. But hear me out  We’re all going to die at some point. Point blank period. The hope is that we will live full, enjoyable lives while we’re here on earth. And one way to do that is to get clear on how you want that life to look to other people. So today, you’re going to write your own eulogy. A eulogy is the speech given about a person at their funeral that tells what kind of life and impact the person had. This exercise should pull together elements of your personal mission statement, ideal life narrative, and maybe even your bucket list.

Estimated Time to Complete: 60 minutes

So imagine you die at age 77 (which is about the average age people live to these days). Think about how you want to be remembered. What mark do you want to make on the world before you die? What do you want to contribute or what do you want to be known for in your life?

Here’s an easy format to follow, adapted from the Art of Manliness (random, I know – but I loved their approach!):

1. Your geographic history (keep this brief). Where did you live? Did you travel all over or did you retire in one place?
2. College and career. Where you went to school, what you majored in, what jobs you had. Include any awards or honors you won or accomplishments you made.
3. Family and relationships. Did you get married? Have kids? How many?
4. Your hobbies and interests. What did you do for fun in your life?
5. The qualities and characteristics that set you apart and made you memorable. What did people like or admire about you?
6. What people will miss about you. What impact did you have on people? How did you help them?

Here’s my eulogy:

Known to her family as “nosy Rosie”, Rosetta was born near Cleveland, Ohio, but spent most of her life and career in the Washington, DC area. Early on, she developed a passion for helping people and spent the beginning of her career in the nonprofit field before starting her own business. Rosetta loved to see other people succeed and dedicated her time and energy to empowering others to reach their goals and dreams. She studied English and was able to use words to spread a message of leadership, empowerment and love. Over the years, Rosetta was able to transform millions of lives with her books, speeches, programs and philanthropy and won numerous awards recognizing her efforts. She will be missed for her positive, caring spirit and insatiable curiosity about the world. Her friends and family will always cherish her willingness to support them in their lives spiritually, emotionally and financially. Rosetta loved traveling and enjoyed her experiences visiting every continent and tasting cuisines from across the globe. She was especially fond of dessert, bourbon and handsome men and enjoyed them in excess. Eventually, she met the love of her life and they decided to settle down in Honolulu, Hawaii in a modest home near the beach. As part of her legacy, she has chosen to bequeath the bulk of her estate to a nonprofit organization serving women of color.

Take Action and Reflect: When you’re done, please share your eulogy in the comments! How did you feel as you were writing it? Were you contemplative? Hopeful? If you blogged about today’s assignment, please post the link in the comments so we can read it!

Heads up: Tomorrow, our final exercise will require you to assemble some art supplies. You’re going to create a vision board! You’ll need:

• a cork board, posterboard or small canvas
• some magazines
• markers or paint
• some thumbtacks, pins, glue or tape

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