What legacy are you leaving your grandchildren?
As you get older, it’s common to take stock of your life and begin to think about how the world has changed since you were little and also what the future will look like for your loved ones and grandchildren. Things such as the environment, technology and the fight against disease are some of the areas that are rapidly changing. Have you thought about how you could make a positive impact in one of these areas? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. From passing on a dying skill to getting involved in research, or even fighting for a cause preserving the environment, in many ways you could say the world you leave behind for future generations is part of your “legacy”.
In order to help you think about what mark you want to leave on the world, we asked you, the Over60 community, to share with us your thoughts on legacies and how you’d go about creating a brighter and better future for generations to come.
1. Strong sense of values
The values you live by are one of the most enduring legacies you can leave to your family. Imparting your experience and wisdom that you’ve accumulated over the years is more than invaluable knowledge, it’s also a rare glimpse into what life was like. These are the types of stories that help teach and inspire generations. So it’s no surprise, then, that a recurring theme in the responses to what legacy Over60s want to pass on was strong values and morals that many were taught as children. Respect, kindness, honesty and love were on the top of the list.
Helen Corbett says she’s teaching her grandchildren to do a “good deed each day” and Joyce Pym says she hopes her grandchildren learn to “pay it forward”.
“This is something I really believe in, doing for others gives you such a buzz. Often it costs nothing, just a smile and a kind word can change someone's whole day,” says Joyce.
2. To fight for a cause
We all leave personal legacies to our families but many Over60 community members expressed a desire to leave a mark on the communities they live in. Whether it’s a love of animals that spurs someone to volunteer at a local animal shelter or it’s the fight for the environment, it’s clear that no matter how small, this community believes we can all do something to help create a brighter future for the children of today.
For some, whose families have been touched by cruel and devastating diseases, it’s supporting charities or medical research institutes who work on cures and treatments for diseases that have impacted their lives. It’s legacies like these that keep on giving. Breakthroughs in medical research will change the future of the world as we know it.
At the forefront of the fight against many diseases – such as Parkinson’s, cancer and diabetes – organisations like the Garvan Institute of Medical Research are a great option to look into if you want to help out. Garvan has a history of major discoveries that have impacted human health. You can leave a bequest to medical research. After your family is taken care of, a gift in your Will is a way to leave a bigger donation to medical research than you might be able to afford now.
3. Keep dying skills alive
With many old-fashioned skills dying out in our technologically advanced world, many grandparents feel a sense of pride in teaching their grandchildren the simple skills they learned from their own grandparents. In the responses, the Over60 community said they want future generations to be equipped with the essential skills that will see them thrive in the world.
Marge Palmer loves teaching her granddaughters knitting, dressmaking and cooking. Jean Clawson has passed down a love of gardening to her children and grandkids, a passion that has kept her connected to her grandchildren as they’ve grown up.
“I had one messaging me this morning about the weeds and prickles in the lawn, where he's moved in to. He loves his lawns,” says Jean.
4. Share your family history
Knowing your family history helps you to understand who you are and where you come from. Sharing and writing this history down not only connects your past and present and enables you to bond with family in the here and now, it’s also a way of ensuring your stories and values can be passed on for generations to come.
Felicity Wilson enjoys regaling her grandchildren with memories from “the dark ages, as they call it”, relaying stories of relatives, family trees, and the stories behind the objects handed down through generations.
Elizabeth Taylor has one request for future generations of her family: “I hope they, and their children, and their children's children and so on, all add to the [family] trees that I am doing now!”
After providing for your loved ones, a legacy gift to the Garvan Institute is another way to contribute to the future health of humankind. For more information, please visit garvan.org.au/bequest or call Carol at 1300 73 66 77 to get an information pack.
THIS IS SPONSORED CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU IN CONJUNCTION WITH GARVAN INSTITUTE.