With the End in Mind: Dying, Death, and Wisdom in an Age of Denial

by Kathryn Mannix

What a laden word. Legacy is what we leave behind in the world, for good or ill. It may be a deliberate and carefully curated collection of items; it may be the help or harm we have done as we interacted with others through our lifetime. The dying are often very aware of their legacy, and keen to ensure that their life ends in a way that does least harm to those they love. Some people work hard to provide memorabilia for others; some take altruistic action by fund-raising in the hope of relieving unknown others of the burden of disease; some wish to generate opportunities to create special ‘last memories’. Whatever actions they may take with the deliberate intention of shaping their legacy, they may well be unaware of the multiple, nuanced effects that they have already had on other people’s lives.