After my first solo travel trip, I found myself trying to answer the question of how I want to be remembered. Will I be the friend who was always there? The wild adventurer? The footnote in everyone’s story that was moving around too much? Obviously, there’s not one answer to this question and it’s going to change based on who you ask and what happens, but I can still wonder what the overall theme will be.

The situation at home brings me back to these questions. People are talking about what their favorite moments with my cousin are and describing his most memorable personality traits. I am sitting amongst the people closest to him, listening to how he will be remembered. I can’t help but think about the gravity of these conversations and wonder who’s going to be in that room for me.  

It feels weird to try to answer how I want to be remembered on a public website.. but Brené Brown said to be vulnerable so here we go. The 3 most important things to me right now are the way I show up for people, my love for fun, and how funny I am. Please, someone mention that I was funny. I hope my goofy laugh, my energy, and how I make people feel cared for pop up in the conversation. While I don’t have direct control over the last one and it fluctuates (forgetting every one of my mom’s birthdays, anniversaries, and significant dates for most of my life isn’t helping this one out), I hope to show people that I meet that I really do care about people I interact with. 

I’m sure what matters to me will change over time, but, more than ever, I’m confident in the core components. Relationships, laughter, and adventure are always going to be with me in some aspect. I’m excited to see what this looks like and I’m excited that I’m prioritizing the things that I hope will leave an impression on those that I know.