What do you want: Good health, a new car, grandchildren, time away from your grandchildren?
Stephen Covey, author of the bestseller “Seven Habits of Highly Effective Leaders,” identified four universal needs: To live, to learn, to love, and to leave a legacy.
We often talk about how to live a life of purpose and compassion, how to continue learning as we age, and what it means to love others and ourselves. But we seldom talk about what it means to leave a legacy: an enduring positive impact on our family, community, or church that will outlive us.
It could be sharing your knowledge and experience with your children and grandchildren; preserving your family history through journals, photos, and recordings, writing a book about the life lessons you’ve learned, or knitting a blanket for your grandchild — which he will always keep because it is from grandma.
One particularly powerful way to leave a legacy is through estate planning. You may be one of the 65% of families that do not have a will and one of the many more who have not even considered including charitable giving.
So where can you learn about the importance of a will or trust, connect with experts and tools that can assist you, and talk with many of the organizations that may fit your charitable interests?
A united consortium of caring nonprofits in the Gorge has come together to offer “Shaping the Future: Community Legacy Initiative.” This free event will be held on Sunday, March 2 from 2-4 p.m. at the Ruins, 13 Railroad St., Hood River. Spots are limited and pre-registration is encouraged at bit.ly/40s4FyY.
During this event, you will be able to:
• Meet experts working in financial planning, law, and more
• Hear from a panel of experts on the benefits and how-tos of estate planning
• Receive free resources and handouts to help you plan your financial future
• Connect with local nonprofits who will be tabling at the event, and
• Determine if there is a local nonprofit you feel encouraged to charitably add to your estate planning
We won’t live forever — I find that inevitability becoming more real every day! — but we can consider how we want to leave a legacy. If you are financially able, when you write your will, consider leaving a part of your estate to support the charities or causes you love most. By doing so, you can help make a better world for your children and your children’s children.
What do you want your legacy to be?
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Brain Teaser. The following quote is from American humorist and writer Kin Hubbard (1868-1930). Can you decode the quote? Hint: Q=W
“HDLFL’C PK CLRFLH XUKJH CJRRLCC. OGO EKJ LMLF YPKQ X CJRRLCCIJV SXP QDK OGOP’H HLVV EKJ XUKJH GH?”
Since Kin Hubbard wrote in the early 1900s for my hometown newspaper, the Indianapolis News, here are a few more of his quotes.
“The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more.”
“Classical music is the kind we keep thinking will turn into a tune.”
“Live so that you can at least get the benefit of the doubt.”
“Flattery won’t hurt you if you don’t swallow it.”
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The title of the love ballad partly sung in French on the Beatle’s album Rubber Soul was “Michelle.” I received correct answers from Stephen Woolpert, Bruce Johnson, Mike McFarlane, Judy Kiser, Donna Mollet, Kathy Bullack, Maria Kollas, Becky Podvent, Dave Lutgens, Lana Tepfer, Rose Schulz, Debbie Medina, Eva Summers, Keith Clymer and Doug Nelson. And the winners of a quilt raffle ticket each are Ken Jernstedt, who took French classes at Hood River High School (I made the mistake of taking two years of high school German!), and David Liberty, who took French in college and sent in the French verse from Michelle, “Ma belle, Sont les mon qui votre bien ensemble, tres bien ensemble.” I’ll let you translate.
And last week I missed Rebecca Abrams, Eva Summers, and Kathy Bullack.
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In the 1968 Presidential election between Richard Nixon and Hubert Humphrey, there was a third candidate who described some of his critics as “briefcase-totin’ bureaucrats, ivory tower guideline writers, bearded anarchists and …pointy-headed professors.”
For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this southern politician who in 1968 won the electoral votes in five southern states? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, call 541-296-4788, or send it with a picture of General LeMay, his vice-presidential running mate.
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Well, it’s been another week playing catch-up. Until we meet again, make the best of what’s yet to come.
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“Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.”
— Franklin Jones
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Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
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