Whether you consider yourself a Royalist or not, it probably hasn’t escaped your notice that Queen Elizabeth left behind her a sense – for many people – of being a very respectful person; a person who stuck by her word and her values; a person who resolved to do her duty, and who did it.
I can’t say I ever envied her that job.
It makes me wonder, though, what is it I would like to leave behind when I go? People may not remember the little things about me, the mistakes I made (well, I’m hoping they won’t!) or the times I had a little too much beer. But what will be the over-riding sense of me they will be left with?
Two years ago our colleague, Hilary, died within a month or so of receiving a diagnosis. Having worked with her for more than a decade, Fiona and I were left with a sense of her calm, quiet wisdom, her values and her kindness.
I have always said I want to leave the world a better place than I found it – but how do I want to leave people feeling?
And how do YOU want to leave them feeling when you go? What would you like YOUR legacy to be?