We wake up, get work, go back home and rinse and repeat – or at least it feels that way sometimes. In truth, there are a million moments in between where we interact with others and we can’t help but wonder what folks will think about us once we aren’t showing up, perhaps once we are gone. Some very thoughtful members of the community share their thoughts on this with us below.
Heroek
I hope people realize and are inspired by the fact that I kept going and that I did it. Even when songs were getting single or double-digit listens, even when no one was watching my YouTube content, I just kept creating because it was so much fun for me and I loved it. Read more>>
Clara Berta
I am pleased to share that I have made a positive impact with my abstract artworks. Also, I completed my International Certification for Art4Healing program. They are making an impact on the senior community in Laguna Beach and the surrounding areas. I am currently expanding these workshops. I am now ready to help my community give pain a voice through facilitating Art4Healing Workshops. Read more>>
Savvas Christou
I hope people will say that I was someone who dedicated his life to telling stories that mattered. That I was not afraid to take risks, to experiment, and to bring people together through art and creativity. I want to be remembered as someone who created opportunities for others, who believed in collaboration, and who never stopped chasing ideas even when they seemed impossible. Read more>>
JULIE WEISS
I hope people say that even in the darkest times, I showed there is still a way forward and there is still light. I hope the story people tell about me is that I lived with courage, purpose, and heart. Read more>>
Scott Rinaldi
It’s not so much about the stories people tell about me—what matters more is the legacy left through the work I’ve created. I have a vision that long after I’m gone, the photographs I’ve taken will continue to live on in people’s homes, framed on their walls, woven into the fabric of their lives. Read more>>
Don Miroradoff
I just hope people say I made them feel something real, you know? That I was never afraid to bleed for the craft, even when it got messy as hell. I want them to remember I stood up for the dreamers, the misfits, and the ones who never quite fit in, but still believed they could change the world — because that’s my tribe. Read more>>
Sanjini Bhakta
I would like people to say that was I always showed my authentic self to the world even if it was different from the norm. That I always lived my life to the beat of my own drum and lived my life to the fullest. Read more>>
Dominique Thomas
When I am gone, I want my story to show others that you can use your gifts that God has given you to be impactful in His kingdom. I want my light to shine even after I am gone. I want to leave a lasting impression of honesty, integrity, loyalty, and love. Read more>>
Alfred Paredes
I think about this one a lot. As a person who has lived a fairly stoic lifestyle for most of my life, I reflect on my mortality and the value I place on things, often. I use that reflection to guide me towards what’s important in my life. I also try to live according to those values as much as possible. Read more>>
Zaid Dahhaj
The story I hope people will tell when I’m gone is that I reminded them the sun was enough. That I helped them see their body as perfectly designed, not broken. That I gave them tools to reclaim their health without fear, dogma, or dependence on a system that profits from sickness. Read more>>
Raha Dabiri
When people think of me, I hope they remember me as a fun and joyful person who inspires others in the world of animation, storytelling, film, and draftsmanship. I dream of leaving a legacy of genuine and authentic characters and becoming an award-winning and successful show runner or film director in the animation/film industry. Read more>>
Sarai Gonzalez
I hope people remember me as someone who made them feel seen, confident, and cared for. Not just through the work I did with hair, but in the way I showed up for them—listening, encouraging, and creating moments that mattered. I want to be remembered as someone who chased her passion, embraced adventure, and treated every connection with kindness and integrity. Read more>>
Josh Mitchell
I hope they tell a story of someone who never stopped chasing the truth of a life, the pulse of a song, and the heart of a story. Someone who took the ordinary and made it feel cinematic, who lifted the voices of people and music that deserved to be heard, and did it all with curiosity, courage, and a little stubborn joy. Read more>>
Jesse Fregozo
There can be many stories I hope people tell about me when I’m gone, but if there is one thing I hope everyone says is that I represented my community above everything. That I never gave up on any member of my community, and I was able to motivate others through the arts. Read more>>
Alexis Griswold
Suffering has taught me how to keep going no matter how many obstacles I face. It gave me courage, perseverance, and the strength to trust myself even when results aren’t immediately visible. I’ve learned to rely on my vision, to believe in my path, and to know that I don’t need outside approval or recognition to feel fulfilled. I can create happiness within myself and be at peace on my own. Read more>>
Tommaso Cappellato
I find myself increasingly detached from my legacy; it’s now more about the present journey. I observe the various waves that carry me from one point to another, with the wind guided by my intentions and desires. Read more>>
Angel Princess
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is how much love I gave and how kind I was. I want people to remember me for my character and not how much money I made or what kind of car I drove. Success in my heart means living your dreams and appreciating those who support you along the way. Read more>>
Lexi Bonin
I hope people are talking about how I made them feel when looking at my photographs. Read more>>
Erica Stenz
I want to be known as a woman who inspired many, who led with a big heart, and who made a lasting positive impact on people’s lives. My hope is to be an example for other women — to show them, through action and faith, that YES, WE CAN!<br> Read more>>
Jamaal Lewis
That I loved God outloud. Regardless of how high I go in my career I will always give glory to God because I know that that’s where all my blessings come from Read more>>
Maurice Ford
I hope people say that I turned pain into purpose—and that I didn’t just survive, I helped others survive too. That I broke cycles, told the truth, and used my story to free others from shame and silence. I hope they say I was real, that I loved hard, spoke boldly, and left a legacy that outlived the mistakes of my past. Read more>>
