I was told once, more than 20 years ago, that the best way to ‘set your goals’ or ‘strategize your life’ was to … write your obituary. When you do it, you are able to see what you want to be remembered for and by whom, and then you dedicate your life to doing .. more of that, and less of the other stuff.

Or that’s the idea … I’ve never been able to do it, not once. I have sat down many times, and given the advice to many people — and, nope. And now I am in the part of my life where I am reviewing others’ obituaries, my father-in-law and my aunt among others. And I wonder what they would have wanted to be remembered by, and what was said. My brother-in-law heroically penned one that made my father-in-law look like the environmentalist and educator that he was, while also leaving out the … more complicated parts that made him who he was. My aunt’s obit was fine, just — not particularly HER. But what can be someone, after someone is gone?

So, I hope I can challenge myself to write my own obituary, and soon. I know I want to ‘make a difference’ in life, and be remembered as a very involved person to my friends, children and extended families, but I don’t know how effective that is, or will be. And I want to be remembered as funny, but my humor stings too many people on a daily basis — another tip I read; make gentle fun of YOURSELF not OTHERS and everyone will like your humor better.

Good long 4 mile run this morning; off to contemplate how I want to be remembered.