Real life, real people – creating, connecting, and changing our world.

You're probably familiar with the words of ancient Greek philosopher Socrates: "The unexamined life is not worth living." There is personal value in thinking about who you are, where you've been, and where you want to go. There is also social value.

You may be less familiar with the words of James Baldwin: "You can write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that [the words] we leave are indispensable to the world... The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way people look at reality, then you can change it."

That's the power of a Legacy Project Life Statement.

The real measure of our lives is in what we learn from our life experiences, the ideas we bring into the world, the values we live by, and our hopes for the future. Life stories, memorials, biographies, and even mission statements are often a recitation of facts, events, and goals without the personal meaning behind them. A Life Statement is a way to share who you are at your core.

A Life Statement is an opportunity. It looks at where you've been and where you'd still like to go. In keeping with the tradition in some cultures of writing an ethical will – which, instead of passing along valuables, passes along values – a Life Statement is a way to explore who you are, your relationships with others, and your impact on the world. Life Statements can be created by everyone from teens to elders.

Your Life Statement will mean something to you and your family – a blueprint for living and a meaningful gift to next generations. Your contribution also becomes a permanent part of the Life Statement Library and a living part of the Legacy Project's ongoing learning community reaching millions around the globe. Others are guided into reading Life Statements that are of interest to them through our activities and workshops. Your life can make a difference.

You can create a Life Statement for yourself or for someone else. Life Statements can be submitted by elders, adults, and young people (a meaningful classroom writing experience). There are three ways to use Life Statements:

1. As a personal journey of self-discovery, a special gift to your family, or to celebrate the birth of a child or grandchild, you can create a Life Statement for yourself that not only becomes a blueprint for living but also leaves a meaningful legacy.

2. Create a Life Statement on behalf of someone (e.g. to honor the memory of a parent, grandparent, or other family member).

3. Give the Life Statement as a gift to a family member or friend.
   
   

As you write a Life Statement, you'll connect with the essence of yourself or the person you're writing about – that part of the self that's most important and that you want to live on to make a difference in the world and other people's lives. Find out more about Life Statements and how you can begin creating a Life Statement. It's easy to do using our step-by-step Life Statement templates for all ages.

You can also read the inspiring, thought-provoking Life Statements of others in the Life Statement Library, an online resource for all ages unlike any other. One of the best ways to better understand ourselves and our world is through the real life experiences of real people. Discover possible solutions to life challenges you face, be inspired and motivated, and learn to be the best you can be for yourself, your family, and your community.

As the Legacy Project logo suggests, our lives can be a path along which we ask questions and make choices. The questions we ask and the answers we find determine the kind of life we live, the relationships we have, and the ways we shape our world. Our legacy evolves as we move from childhood through adolescence to young adulthood and older adulthood. What's your legacy?