Picture this...

It’s your 65th birthday and your friends and family are all sitting together around a table at your favorite restaurant. There, they talk about their favorite memories with you, how astounding a personality you have, and how much they look up to you. They soon begin to talk about how much they miss you, your glowing smile, and your optimistic mindset that stayed intact regardless of the obstacles bestowed upon you.

You’re not there. It’s the 10th year since you’ve attended that birthday dinner, the 10th year since you’ve passed away.

Now, this may have raised questions such as the following:

“Who am I now?”

“What do I do that leaves an impact on the world and the people around me?”

“How do people think of me?”

...but the real question you need to ask yourself is "How do I want to be remembered?"

January, being the month of new beginnings, is a time of reflection, re-evaluation, and change. Resolutions are made in hopes of making one feel better about themselves and the life they are living.

Yes, resolutions such as eating better and exercising are always great, but what about being a better person to the people around us, doing things that leave a positive impact on a world that needs it, or even just allowing yourself to be the you that you’ve been holding back for so long, afraid that someone may judge you?

Self-actualization, the realization of your potentialities, can come at any point throughout one’s life. It is never too late to become the person that you want to be, nor is there ever a wrong time for change.

Over the past month, the concept of self-actualization and who I want to be known as has been constantly running through my mind. Not only have I reevaluated who I am, but I've started taking action. I feel as though I have been focusing too much on things that won't matter weeks, even days from now, rather than living my life the way I truly want to live it.

I decided to ask a few people what comes to mind when they think of me, with one common response being "always stressed." I, myself, knew that I was constantly stressing, but I did not realize that my inner stress was portrayed through my personality. My goal this year is to become more carefree, stress less, and become the individual I want to be remembered as. What's yours?

Everyday we should be living our best life, the life we want people to remember us living when we no longer get the chance to live it. We know that our lives aren’t eternal, but never do we really think that today will be our last day.

How do you want to be remembered at your birthday dinner, 10 years after your passing?

A confidant to friends?

A lover to the ones who give your life meaning?

An outgoing individual with a humor like no other?

A safe haven to those in need?

A friend that thrived off of human connections?

An inspiration to your best friend not to be afraid to live their best life, carefree and without worry?

A member and devout follower of your religion?

A poised individual who was guided and bound by their values, goals, and aspirations?

You can be whoever you want to be whenever you wish, but remember, how you are remembered begins with who you are today. Make the change, take the initiative to be that person that you want to be remembered as.