Reflecting on Your Hard Work and Legacy This Labor Day
Labor Day, celebrated on the first Monday in September in the United States, marks the unofficial end of summer and honors the hard work and achievements of American workers. It started with the labor movement’s push for better working conditions. But Labor Day is also a time to reflect on the work you’ve put into building your own life. Your home, family, and career are all the results of your dedication and effort. So, whether you’re grilling or relaxing by the beach this Labor Day, take a moment to think about all you’ve accomplished through your hard work. Let’s reflect on it together.
Reflection No. 1: Do You Remember?
Do you remember your very first job? Maybe it was babysitting for a neighbor or mowing lawns as a kid. Or perhaps you had a part-time job in high school, working evenings and weekends. As you grew up, how did it feel to get that first taste of independence? It probably felt pretty amazing! For the first time, you got to decide how to spend your time and money, and that was incredibly empowering, wasn’t it? You might have worked hard to gain that financial freedom, juggling classes, homework, extracurricular activities, and a job. (Can you even imagine doing all that now? Where did all that energy go?!)
But your hard work didn’t stop there. Even if you didn’t have a part-time job, you likely still worked hard. Maybe you focused on getting good grades in school, excelled in sports, or practiced a musical instrument.
No matter what kind of work it was, there’s a special kind of pride and accomplishment that comes from seeing the results of your efforts. That feeling is hard to beat and makes all the hard work worth it.
So, before we move on, take a moment to remember those early accomplishments. Think about how it felt to gain your independence for the first time. What memories or lessons would you want to share with your kids or nieces and nephews so they can learn from your experiences?
Reflection No. 2: In the Heart of It
As you grew into the adult you are today, your work changed and evolved. Maybe you spent years in school earning a degree, or perhaps you jumped straight into your first “real” job, whether or not you went to college. That first full-time job was another big milestone—earning full-time money, but also taking on full-time adult responsibilities.
During this phase of life, you might have bought your first home or started a family. You may have taken on debt, like a mortgage or student loans, and worked hard to make your payments on time.
This is the stage where you’re in the thick of life. It can feel like all you do is work, even if it’s unpaid work like raising a family. But isn’t this also a wonderful time? If you have children, you work hard to teach them the skills they need to become successful adults. You support them financially and emotionally, ensuring they have what they need to thrive. And as you watch them grow into adulthood, you see the results of all your hard work as they become caring, capable, and productive members of society.
If you started a business during this time, you’ve undoubtedly worked hard, pouring your time, energy, and maybe even money into making your dream a reality. You’ve created jobs for others and solved problems that needed solutions.
Now, take a moment to think about all you’ve accomplished through your hard work. Have you enriched the lives of others? Have you helped the people you love reach their full potential? Have you created something new in the world?
Consider not only the tangible achievements, like building a business or advancing in your career, but also the intangible ones, like the love you give and receive.
As you reflect on your life at this stage, how do you feel? Has all the hard work been worth it? What lessons and values do you want to pass on to those you love?
Reflection No. 3: What Comes Next?
As you get older—and wiser—your work changes again. You might be retiring from your job or thinking about leaving a business behind. If you have children, you’ve watched them build their own careers and families. Now is the time to enjoy the rewards of all your hard work. But it’s also time to think about what happens next.
How can you make sure that all the effort you put in throughout your life isn’t wasted? What can you do to ensure that when you’re gone, the things you’ve worked so hard for don’t get lost, taken by creditors, or wasted by someone who doesn’t appreciate them?
More importantly, how can you prevent your family from ending up in court, fighting with each other, and damaging their relationships? After everything you’ve done for those you love, you don’t want to see that happen. So now, the work involves making important decisions, documenting those decisions, and communicating them clearly with a Planning Session.
A Planning Session is a complete estate plan that ensures your life’s work is protected and not lost or wasted. It makes sure your hard-earned assets go to the people you choose, in the way you want, when you’re no longer here. It also ensures that your wishes are followed if you become unable to make decisions. A Planning Session helps keep your family out of court and avoids conflicts, preserving the relationships you’ve worked so hard to build. Most importantly, it helps you pass on what matters most: your legacy.
Before you think, “Legacy? That’s not for me. I’m not going to have a hospital wing named after me!,” let me stop you. Legacy isn’t just for the rich or famous—that’s a misconception. Legacy is how people remember you, and you can shape your legacy with a Planning Session. When you work with me, we’ll not only make sure your assets are handled the way you want, but we’ll also capture the essence of your life’s work in a Planning Session Interview. My clients often say this is their favorite and most meaningful part of the process.
Book a call with me using the link below to learn more.
Heads Up! Life Doesn’t Always Follow the Script—Act Before It’s Too Late
Ideally, you’ll make it through all the stages we talked about, but there’s a chance you might not. I’m not trying to scare you, but it’s important to remember that death is a part of life. The one thing we don’t know is when it will happen. If we don’t plan ahead, we leave our loved ones with a big, expensive, and time-consuming mess. The sooner we accept this and plan for it, the more likely it is that your legacy will be one of love and care. Plus, planning ahead might help you make better choices with your resources while you’re still here—that’s why we call it Planning Session.
Estate planning is for everyone, including you, no matter where you are in life. In fact, you already have an estate plan, even if you haven’t made one yourself. If you don’t create your own plan, the State has one for you, but it’s probably not what you want. When you make your own plan, you get to decide how your life’s work is remembered and managed. After all the hard work you’ve done, don’t you deserve to have things go your way?
How We Help Ensure the Legacy of Your Life’s Work
Your life’s work is a reflection of your dedication, perseverance, and love. From your first job to where you are now, you’ve built a legacy that deserves protection. This Labor Day, as you look back on your journey, think about how you want that legacy to last. Take control of your future and protect what matters most by scheduling a Planning Session with us. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s craft a plan that honors your hard work and ensures your legacy endures. Together, we can secure your family’s future and celebrate the fruits of your labor for generations to come.
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This article is a service of 20WestLegal LLC. We don't just draft documents; we ensure you make informed and empowered decisions about life and death for yourself and the people you love. That's why we offer a Planning Session, during which you will get more financially organized than you've ever been before and make all the best choices for the people you love. You can begin by calling our office in Sudbury, Massachusetts today to schedule an Estate Planning Session and mention this article to find out how to get this $750 session at no charge.
The content is sourced from Personal Family Lawyer® for use by Personal Family Lawyer® firms, a source believed to be providing accurate information. This material was created for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as ERISA, tax, legal, or investment advice. If you are seeking legal advice specific to your needs, such advice services must be obtained on your own separate from this educational material.