Legacy can be a scary word.

Many of us are conditioned to think that legacy is something we leave behind when we die, and naturally, few people are comfortable contemplating their own mortality.

It is human nature to assume that life will continue indefinitely. Without that belief, it would be far more difficult to move through life with resilience.

While leaving assets through a will can enhance the lives of beneficiaries and enable the charitable causes close to your heart to extend their reach, a legacy is far more expansive than what is distributed after death. It is equally defined by what we leave around us as we move through each moment of our lives.

Legacy is reflected in whether we make people smile rather than feel diminished. It is helping others recognize their inherent value, regardless of their personal or financial circumstances. It is about creating conditions in which younger people, across all social and economic backgrounds, are able to thrive. This is not something reserved for the end of life. It is something we shape today, in every moment. You can choose to stop waiting and begin living your legacy now.

I am no longer 25, and it is likely that you are not either. At this stage in life, we are both in positions where our actions can have a meaningful and positive impact on the world. This begins with intentionality in both large and small decisions. The larger actions often require an investment of time, money, or both.

It has been........

© International Business Times