What Will They Think?

Photo by Mayron Oliveira on Unsplash

Question for you: Do you ever imagine who will be at your funeral and what will be said?
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They say that we shouldn’t care what others think. That those who mind don’t matter. And those who matter don’t mind. But who can resist wanting to know exactly what it is that the people in your life think about you?

It’s not uncommon to fantasize about one’s own funeral proceedings. Who will be present or not present. The words that will be spoken or not spoken. The legacy that will be acknowledged or not acknowledged. The jokes people will crack. The shared memories that will resurface. The secrets that will come out into the open... and those that will remain hidden forever. With all of this, it’s important to note that as much as you might aim to influence today the legacy you’ll leave behind tomorrow, only so much of this is in your control.

People will remember what they want to remember about you, and will sometimes cling onto the most unexpected details. For one person, it may be the dimples on your cheeks when you smile. For another, it may be color of your eyes. It could be that one moment where you gave someone a hug in a time of need that stands out to one person. Or that other moment where you completely lost it... and let your temper run wild. Your best moment. Or your absolute worst. People won’t forget how you made them feel. And they’ll carry that with them.

It’s only natural to wonder and care about how others feel about you and the impact you’ll have on them when you leave this earth. But don’t look too far away or get too far ahead of yourself. Keep your head underneath your shoulders, remain grounded in the present, and simply treat others the way you’d like to be treated. Trust that you know what you’re doing, even when you feel you don’t. Live and learn. Rise and fall. And remember that you can’t please everyone at every moment. Nor should you try.