Once upon a time there were magical books called grimoires.  I’m not going to lie, I had never heard of this kind of book and I had to look up the definition.  Apparently, they are books with spells, incantations and magic potions. 

No thank you.

However, G told me about this grimoire she was reading by an actress I also had never heard of prior to this conversation and she said it wasn’t witchy and weird, it was more like a different way of keeping a journal.

This is not a book review so don’t get glassy eyed on us. 

Okay. Maybe.

G had only read a handful of pages at that point, but felt like this book was something we both might be interested in.  I felt very disinterested until she mentioned journals and writing with fancy pens.  I decided at that point I would purchase the audio version so if it was in fact terrible, I would at least be doing 3 other things while I listened to it.

This grimoire turned out to be more of a jumping point for keeping all things YOU in one place.  While the author loved the idea of a grimoire and all the magic that comes with it, I felt less than enthused by the idea.

I liked the premise of her book, but not so much the idea of a grimoire. It sounded so…grim. Like who wants to read something that sounds depressing, right?

I mean it’s really a keepsake that is part autobiography, part memoir, part wisdom, post-its, recipes; things you don’t want anyone to live without because they mean something to you.

I think I’m going to call it My Endowment.  It’s perfect because you can’t give an endowment back.  You’re stuck with it just like the self-deprecating, sarcastic humor you also inherited from me. You’re welcome.

My Endowment might need to be more of a box than a book because I also have some slight hoarding tendencies. Again…you’re welcome.

The current situation of My Endowment is that it resides in my nightstand.  In fact, that is where the chosen notebook and fancy pens also live.  I’m not sure if I think the important things will transfer to the pages like osmosis or if they are just there to mock me every time I open the drawer.  

So, maybe I will get this done right after I finish those photo albums from 2002 forward and the laundry that is piling up as I write the 5th iteration of this blog.

Until all of the important things make it into the designated Endowment notebook, I will continue to collect them in my nightstand and within my soul.

In all seriousness, though, what would be in your endowment?  What makes you magical? What sparks so much joy in you that you want to pass it along?  What do you love doing?  What recipe do your kids call for over and over again? What do you do because it’s important?  What stories, quotes, favorite books, wisdom, song lyrics, notes of encouragement, ideas or photographs would you want to endow to your people?  Obviously, one day all of your things will be passed on to your family, but if you had a special place for those extra special parts of you, what would we find? This endowment is imbued by you.  You are the essence of this entire project.

I’m not going to tell you the things I am considering for My Endowment.  It’s personal to each person and, honestly, my things would mean nothing to you.  I could tell you the  lyrics to a song that resonate with me deeply, but again, you wouldn’t understand. I could show you a card that touched my soul so deeply that just seeing it brings tears to my eyes, but again, it wouldn’t lead back to your endowment.

So, I leave you with this quote from Maya Angelou in hopes that it ignites a spark in you and leads you to understand the mark you want to leave, not just in your own endowment, but each and every day. 

If you’re going to live, leave a legacy.  Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.”