Over the winter, I watched the leaves of a bulb push through the soil in my front garden. I wondered what they might be since I was not familiar with the plant. To my delight, I returned from my writing retreat to find my garden covered in bluebells – a bulb better known in the English countryside in early summer. Not in my wildest dreams had I imagined a garden filled with bluebells when I purchased my property last year.
A previous owner must have planted a few bulbs a long time ago, which spread to cover several beds in front of my house. Her small deed still delights me years or even decades later. It led me to think about legacy.
Legacy has been on my mind as we work on succession planning in our business. I have been contemplating what I would like to leave behind. It is both frightening and exciting to prepare for the next generation to lead, even if it is still many years away.
Few people consider legacy until midlife, when we start to confront our mortality. Thinking about it is humbling. Most of us will not be remembered beyond a generation or two—even the extraordinarily wealthy, successful or famous fade from memory. Of course, there are exceptions – Adolf Hitler will be remembered for centuries for his immense destruction. At the same time, Nelson Mandela will be revered for his role in ending Apartheid and symbolising forgiveness and hope. These two stand as polar legacies, showing that our impact is not measured by wealth but by how we shape the world.
But legacy is about more than money, or even heroic acts. This is where many of us disqualify ourselves from thinking about it. Our most important legacy is our impact on people. In my work, I often encounter heirs left with life-changing bequests who never knew the workaholic entrepreneur as a caring parent. The true legacy is not the money, but the mark we leave as parents, siblings, colleagues and friends.
Science now tells us that trauma can be passed down through generations, but also that we can break cycles by fostering mental health and resilience. I like to think of this as the healing that happens when we love well. We can all choose to love – in our families, workplaces, or even in brief encounters with strangers. Love can change physiology, soften mental states, and perhaps even save a life, or a generation.
Love may be our greatest legacy. In a polarised world, we each have a choice every day in how we impact the future.
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Kind regards,
Sunél
//19 September 2025