On its own, though, that question feels a bit too simple. It doesn’t fully capture the weight of what it’s really asking us to confront.
So instead, I’ve found it helpful to reshape it asking it in ways that bring more clarity and meaning.
These are questions worth sitting with, returning to often:
* If I could leave behind just one meaningful change in the world or in someone’s life, what would it be?
* What do I hope people understand about themselves or about life because they knew me?
* When I’m no longer here, what kind of absence would I want to leave? What unique contribution would be missing and how can I pass that on to others while I still can?
* What story do I want my life to tell about what it means to be human?
* What single quality do I want people to feel when they think about the time they spent with me?
* What story do I hope people continue to share and what can I do today to make sure that story becomes true?