I am taking a class that requires us to write our own eulogy.  I have gone through this exercise before, and every time it is a different experience.  I find that my sense of life purpose and the definition of success have evolved as I age.  Each time, I focus on fewer key points.  Each time, the description of how I want to see myself at life's end is a little simpler. 

I can now boil it down to one phrase:  "I want to be truly helpful." What does that mean?  Given my combination of temperament and experience, it probably does not mean that I can fix your car, host a large party, or transform clay and rocks into a beautiful landscape.  Given the strengths with which I was born and the opportunities that followed, I envision myself being helpful in less tangible ways.   With that in mind, at the end of my life, I want the following statements about me to be true:

• She listened with understanding, accepted with openness, and appreciated the unique value of every person she encountered.
• She supported others in setting powerful personal goals and achieving them.
• She walked the talk, living a life committed to learning and growth.
• She shared the journey with compassion, and insight.
• She facilitated community, helping others to connect with common purpose.

I want to be truly helpful.  I want to make a difference in the lives I touch.  I want the world to be richer in kindness, patience, and humor for my being here. I want this vision to guide the choices I make today.  And tomorrow.  And the next day.

What lifetime contributions are most important to you?  Do they realistically tap into your intrinsic strengths, or do they highlight weaknesses you hope someday to correct?  Do they resonate with your deepest values or do they reflect societal expectations?  How do you want to be described when life ends?  How are the choices you make today leading you there?