How Do You Want to be Remembered?

I am reflecting on "how do I want to be remembered?"

And pose the same question to you.

Marcus Aurelius inspired this reflection.

And while we are nearly two millennia apart in existence, the reflection still holds a significant meaning in purpose.

Observing the masses, no matter where I go, what day it is, or what time of day I can look around and see people’s souls being sucked away from through their lifeline device, i.e., 📲

So, while walking this morning, I pondered, once again, this question, “How do I want to be remembered?” and I kept coming back to the same conclusion.

to be present

Now, before I continue. I am not exempt.

I run multiple businesses from this single device and get sucked into reading, social media, texting, and, more often, lol. But I’m getting better. Thanks for asking.

It’s a disease we all suffer from, but I’ll share below what hacks I’ve found to help reduce my screen time by 23 hours a week (yes, nearly an entire fucking day per week!)

Just imagine what you could do, build, or who you could be present for with an added 23 hours per week 🤯

I want to be remembered as someone who was present with whoever was in front of me at the time.

I want to be with the person in front of me fully present, and for them to leave our encounter and feel felt by my presence.

The Cost of Presence and the Loss of Attention

When you're with a loved one, or even when you're alone with your thoughts, where your attention goes is a direct reflection of your values and priorities.

Too often, we forget this. Just think about it.

You can likely think of or know someone that each time you’re around having a “conversation,” their attention span dedicated to you is the size of mice nuts 🥜.

They’re responding to you half-assedly while double-fisting their iPhone on something that is 100% not more important.

How did that make you feel?

It's an indirect message, telling you that something on that screen is more important than your presence.

When I encounter these people, I stop talking completely and shift gears - most of the time, it triggers their awareness that they weren’t present, and they ask for me to continue, and I say:

“Nah, it’s fine. Keep doing what you’re doing.”

And I let them sit with that feeling. It’s the only way they will remember.

When you divide your attention, you rob yourself of the full experience.

You might be physically present, but mentally, you're miles away.

And in that division of attention, the richness of the moment is lost, not just for you but for everyone involved.

Today’s currency is not money but attention.

Where and to whom you give your attention is invaluable.

Why?

Because your time here is limited.

Screen Time vs. Soul Time

Now, about those 23 hours, I've regained each week from screen time.

It wasn't easy, but it’s pretty straightforward.

Here's how:

1. Set Boundaries: Designate 'no phone' times or zones in your home or workplace. This created a physical distance that helped me break the cycle of constantly checking my phone.
   

2. Scheduled Checks: I limited my email and social media checking to specific times of the day. I was pretty surprised how this simple action freed up chunks of my day.

   1. ProTip* - one of the check-ins is done on a 15-minute walk. This way, I’m not a couch potato death scrolling but rather walking outside.
      

3. Quality Over Quantity: Reserving my valuable time for online and offline interactions. This ensured that my screen time was productive, not just consumptive.

YES, these simple 3 actionable tips gave me back 23 hours in a week.

And now, I’ve just gamified the process, trying to get more and more of my time back!

The Evergreen Virtue of Being Present

"Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking."

~Marcus Aurelius~

And I find that this correlates strongly with being present.

You could be on a beach in Bali or in a boardroom in New York.

What truly matters is where your mind is.

When you're fully present, you can find contentment and richness in the simplest of moments; you can find a whole universe within a single conversation.

Being present allows us to connect deeply with others, to truly listen and be listened to, to give and receive love more fully, and to enrich our life experience.

It opens the door to empathy, understanding, and deeper relationships.

In an age where our attention is pulled in a thousand different directions at once, being fully present is a rare and precious gift to ourselves and others.

Final Thoughts: The Legacy of Attention

How do I want to be remembered?

As someone who was truly present.

In a world spiraling into an attention deficit crisis, presence is more than a gift; it's a statement - a statement that the person in front of you is important, that this moment matters, and that life is happening here and now.

So, what about you?

How do you want to be remembered?

Do you want your remembrance to be one of divided attention, a life half-lived, always distracted by the next shiny object?

Or do you want to be remembered as someone who knew the value of a moment, knew the weight of a single, undivided glance, and understood that life's true currency is not money but attention?

You have the power to choose. So Choose wisely.

And with that, I urge you:

Be present. Be felt. Make your moments count.

Because, in the end, that's the most valuable asset you can leave behind.

Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. → Build 1 Thing Community -If you're looking for traction in your personal brand or business, I'd recommend joining the Build 1 Thing community.

2. → Somatic Breathwork - Using the breath, you will engage your innate ability to heal and sweep out any defenses, blockages, restrictions, or pains that hold you back from who you are and how you want to show up in this world.