What Will Matter

What will matter is not what you bought,
but what you built
Not what you got, but what you gave
What will matter is not your success,
but your significance
What will matter is not what you learned
but what you taught.
What will matter is every act of integrity,
compassion, courage, or sacrifice that enriched,
empowered or encouraged others
to emulate your example.
What will matter is not your competence
but your character
What will matter is not how many people you knew
but how many will feel a lasting loss when you are gone.
What will matter is not your memories
but the memories that live on in those who loved you!
What will matter is how long you will be remembered,
by whom, and for what.
Living a life that matters does not happen by accident!
It is not a matter of circumstance but of choice.
Choose to live a life that matters.
(from Michael Josephson: Character Counts)