Let’s Talk Strategy for Leaving a Lasting Legacy (Yes, Yours)

When you hear terms like “lasting legacy” thrown around, you probably picture something pretty specific. It could be Oprah, Angelina Jolie, or Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Maybe it’s your Aunt Janet who invented a potato salad recipe so good, it got a standing ovation at your cousin’s annual family picnic last year.

But the truth is, leaving a legacy isn’t necessarily about winning awards, being famous, or even being mentioned in someone’s graduation speech. It’s about how you make people feel – the light you leave behind when you walk out of a room – and no, midlife is not too late to work on yours or add to it.

In this article, we’ll dish about what creating a legacy is truly all about, as well as touch on some ways to make sure yours is everything you want it to be.

Why a Lasting Legacy Matters More Than We Think

Somewhere between realizing that you really can’t eat like you used to at 25 anymore and wondering when you became the oldest person in your favorite group chat, you start wondering something oddly specific. “Does any of this even matter?”

For most of us, it first shows up right when our core roles are starting to shift. Your kids leave home. Your work life transitions. Mom, boss, wife, fixer-of-all-the-things – all of those little pieces of your identity start reframing themselves in ways that remind you you’ve got more road behind you than you do ahead.

That’s when you start wondering whether or not you’ll leave a lasting legacy, and you’re not alone. Here’s why legacy matters so much to so many people:

• We want to know our lives were about more than paying bills and folding laundry on an endless loop.
• It’s how we weave meaning into the messiness and become part of something bigger than ourselves.
• It’s also how we stay connected to loved ones (and humanity at large, too).

It’s also normal to wonder in midlife whether you’ve left enough of a lasting legacy, and what you should do next to enhance yours. And no, deciding you want to work harder at creating a legacy doesn’t mean you have to run out and start a non-profit or anything (unless you want to).

You’re likely already leaving a legacy for those who watch you move through life every day. And they’re learning what’s possible just by watching you. Here are some things to keep in mind as you continue on your path.

You Don’t Need a Stage to Be a Star

You likely already know this on some level, but it bears repeating regardless. You do not need to be a bestselling author or a public speaker to reach people and make a lasting impact.

Some of the most incredible women I’ve ever known have never once won a major award or even updated a LinkedIn profile. They’re forces of nature who just kept showing up, over and over again, for everyone in their social circle. They were there for their friends and communities, and they were there for me, too.

So, if you really want to be remembered, start there. A lasting legacy begins with small moments and quiet choices like these:

• Holding someone’s hand in a waiting room
• Speaking your truth right out loud, even if it’s scary
• Taking the time to remind others that they matter, are loved, and are thought about
• Listening to someone who needs to talk, without once glancing at your phone

No TED Talk required, I promise.

Kindness Is an Inheritance, Not a Weakness

In a world that seems to be filling up with snark and sometimes outright rudeness, being someone who’s still kind can feel… out of style. But that’s exactly why it’s so important. Being kind is a subversive kind of strength that’s foundational, as it sets an example for others. It shows them that there’s a better way to move through the world.

When someone’s kind and caring, people remember that. This is the case whether you’re talking about your family, the coworker you always made time for, or total strangers you crossed paths with over the course of your day. They might forget exactly what used to be on your resume, but they won’t forget the way you made them feel seen and heard.

Here’s something to try the next time leaving a lasting legacy is on your mind. Think of one woman who’s shown you radical kindness at some point. Are you passing along the energy she showed you, or are you hoarding it because you somehow don’t think it counts?

Share the Things You Thought Didn’t Matter

By midlife, you’ve been through a lot. You’ve loved, laughed, cried, and regretted. You’ve had all sorts of experiences, and you’ve got the cache of “fun to tell at parties” stories to prove it. There’s a lot of wisdom in there, all wrapped up in the humor and the humility of it all.

Don’t keep it to yourself. Something that feels “unremarkable” to you could well be something life-changing for somebody else. Stories are among the oldest tools people have used throughout time to pass on survival skills, memories, strength, and identity.

That said, there’s a good chance your lasting legacy is hiding in a story you haven’t gotten around to telling yet. That time you launched a new business with no backup plan. The day you learned how to accept an apology you knew you would never receive. Your quirky habit of talking to trees (and maybe the occasional random bird).

Own those stories, tell them, and share them with other women who can learn from them.

Leave a Trail of Breadcrumbs Behind You

Seriously, you don’t need a long list of credentials under your belt to have a voice worth hearing. And you don’t need to have it all figured out, either. (But if you do, please message me immediately and share!)

You can still leave something behind for those who come after you to follow – your niece, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, the five people who never fail to comment on your social media posts. It doesn’t have to be an e-course called 5 Steps to Becoming Me. Instead, think:

• Decision trails others can learn from
• Deeply held personal values
• Small acts of kindness performed right out in the open

Whatever it is should simply say, “This is how I did it. And you can do it your own way, but this is what helped me.” You’ve got more eager takers than you think, I promise.

Opt for Alignment Over Approval

If you’re like a lot of women going through midlife, you might also be realizing that you’ve spent your life dancing to music you didn’t even pick. I personally spent decades trying to be agreeable, responsible, and likable in the eyes of people who likely don’t even remember me now. Maybe you have, too.

One of the best ways to create a lasting legacy in midlife (or work on one already in progress) is to start living in alignment with what your heart and soul want. Some of the ways that might look might include:

• Taking risks and trying new things that honor your true values
• Walking away from toxic people who drain your energy
• Knowing when to risk disappointing others in favor of showing up for yourself
• Being honest about what you really want, even if it changes a couple of times along the way

As you’re likely already realizing by now, approval fades, especially over time. But alignment gives you something to build on.

Follow That Nudge (Yes, Even Now)

So, let’s say you still have something big hanging out on your bucket list. Maybe you’ve always wanted to write a novel, open a bookstore, or launch a community garden that doubles as a hangout spot for stray cats. Whatever your dream is, know that it’s not too late to pursue it.

In fact, this might actually be the best time to go after it. By midlife, you’re not just older. You’re also wiser, less afraid of failure, and a heck of a lot more interesting at dinner parties. Plus, you finally have time to pursue some goals of your own now, instead of someone else’s idea of what success looks like.

If you’re going after something goal-oriented, passion should lead the charge. But make sure your goals are also SMART:

• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Relevant
• Time-bound

SMART goals aren’t about boxing yourself in. They’re about giving your midlife dream a tangible shape you can reach for.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Even (and maybe even especially) the strongest women need support. In fact, if you’ve spent the first half of your life being the person everyone else leans on, you might not be fully aware of how lonely that can be.

Finally finding the courage to ask for the help and support you need is a solid next step to take on your way to rediscovering yourself and building a lasting legacy. That might look like:

• Booking that therapy session you’ve been putting off
• Starting a social club (or joining an existing one) where you can show up as your unfiltered self
• Signing up for a writing circle, walking group, etc.
• Checking out an accountability-based resource like Midlife Reimagined Mastermind

Midlife is an amazing time of life to make new friends and get to know yourself better. Dive in, embrace it, and see what happens.

One Last Thing Before You Go Make a Sandwich

It may not feel like it all the time, every day, or at all. But you’re already building a legacy. Every hard conversation you decide to have, every time you forgive a friend instead of staying bitter, every time you choose joy, you add to a beautiful, lasting legacy in progress.

So, no. You haven’t missed your window. You’re not too old, and it’s definitely not too late. You’ve only completed the first half of your life, and look how much you’ve already accomplished. Imagine how much you still have left to experience.

In other words, your lasting legacy is a book that’s only half finished. The best parts are still yet to come, so write it and make it everything you’ve always dreamed it could be.