Time to Write Your Eulogy

I had been pushing hard for a week and could see the light at the end of the tunnel as I neared the end of this personal development bootcamp. Up to this point, every day had been grueling. Alongside our classroom education, we were met with physical obstacles every day. We’d run up and down sand dunes in the mountains of Southern California or be challenged with team obstacle courses that pushed us to our limits. But this last day felt different. As we reported to the room where they told us to meet, the door was closed and everyone was told to line up single file and wait quietly for further instructions. 

The mood was somber and through the closed door, we could hear quiet instrumental music playing in the background. One at a time, they called us to enter the room. After each person left the room, there were tears in their eyes. I was pretty confused, what was about to happen? 

The instructor called me to enter and as I walked in, he handed me a program. On the front of the program was a picture of my face. It read, “In Loving Memory of Zachery Ny Santmier” and had my birthdate and that day’s date. I was instructed to go around the corner and sit down in the designated chair. As I turned the corner, I saw the chair. It was facing an open casket. 

I was at my funeral. 

Over the next 10 minutes, I was instructed to write MY Eulogy. Who would be at my funeral and what would they say? At that moment, I couldn’t help but think about my Great Grandpa’s and my Grandpa’s funerals. The Eulogies people spoke were beautiful and their lives had touched so many. What would people say about me? 

Material concerns faded away and as I wrote, the only thing I could think about was my wife and my daughters. Was I being intentional in their lives? Was I perpetuating the legacy I had received? Would my life mean anything to them after I left? I wrote and I cried. I imagined the day when I would go and meet my Savior. When I do, what legacy will I leave? Writing my own Eulogy brought into focus what is important in life. Yes, we should be good stewards of all we have here on Earth, but who are we becoming in the process? What legacy are we building so that when we’re gone, our lives will bless people for 5, 6, 7, or more generations? 

Yes, you’ve probably guessed it. It’s time for you to write your Eulogy. This sort of experience has the power to change the trajectory of your life. What you thought was important, might become meaningless as you begin to think about your mortality. I want to contextualize all of this money talk we’ve been having. On one bookend, we discussed your purpose. What have you been created for? I encouraged you to get your money right so that you can pursue all God has for your life. 

But now, on this bookend, I want to put all of that money in perspective. If all you perpetuate are tangible assets, your legacy will only last for one or two generations. But your life has the ability to touch countless generations if you decide today to begin building the intangible legacy you will leave behind. As it was for my Great Grandpa, as you perpetuate your legacy, money should only be the cherry on top. 

When you die, people will gather together and will mourn passing and celebrate your life. Spend some time writing and thinking about who will be there. What will they say? What do you hope they say? What do you want them to say? Spend some time today writing your Eulogy. It will be time well spent, I promise. 

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Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck to paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future.