🕊️ LEGACY
“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones.” – Shannon L. Alder
Legacy is the footprint that lasts beyond your moment—the ripple of meaning your life leaves behind. In the ADHD terrain, where we often live in the now or wrestle with forgetfulness and time blindness, the concept of legacy might feel distant or abstract. But it’s there—in the way we impact others, in the values we pass on, in the way we show up when no one’s keeping score.
For ADHDers, legacy might not be about medals, resumes, or structured milestones. It might be about the child you mentored, the honesty you modeled, the hope you gave someone just by being real. It’s not about grandeur. It’s about meaning.
This value invites you to pause and ask: What really matters? What do I want to be remembered for—not just when I’m gone, but when I leave the room, the project, the relationship? Legacy calls us to live with intention now, so that later is shaped by who we are—not what we achieved.
And legacy is not just something you leave behind. It’s something you live into. It’s the courage to break a cycle, start a conversation, or plant the first tree in someone else’s forest.
🧭 The HOPE Trail Map
- Helps or Harms: Am I building something that lasts—or just chasing what feels urgent?
- Own My Values: I want to be someone who lives today in a way that contributes to a better tomorrow—for myself and others.
- People and Pursuits: Who do I want to influence or nurture? What kind of example do I want to leave behind?
- Enact and Evaluate: Today, I’ll take one small step that reflects the legacy I want to live, not just leave.
⚠️ Trail Challenges
- ADHDers may struggle with long-term thinking or future-oriented planning.
- Feelings of failure or inconsistency may block belief in having lasting impact.
- Legacy may be misunderstood as grand, public, or unattainable.
🪧 Trail Markers: Small Steps Toward Legacy
- Ask yourself: What am I proud of that no one else sees?
- Share a story, insight, or encouragement that might help someone else grow.
- Write down what values you want others to associate with your name.
🔥 Campfire Questions for Reflection
- What kind of legacy do I want to live—not just leave?
- Who am I influencing right now, even if I don’t realise it?
- What part of my story might become someone else’s survival map?
Legacy isn’t just what you leave behind. It’s how you live today—with courage, care, and a willingness to shape the future through the truth of your presence.
