The Stories We Leave Behind
October 14, 2026 | Vol. 11
This past weekend, I attended a memorial for a former manager and coworker I had known and worked with for more than 20 years. It was a beautiful service and tribute to his life and the impact he had on so many people.
Ironically, I had been travelinng and happened to be with a dear friend of mine when we found out he had passed. He had worked for both of us at different points in our careers, and as difficult as the news was, I was grateful we were together when we received it. We immediately started sharing stories and memories from our years with him.
In addition to his work at the theatre, he was a football coach at a local high school. One of the most impactful moments for me was seeing a line of football players arrive to pay their respects. He and his wife were also deeply involved with the youth at their church, and throughout the service, people shared stories about the influence he had on their lives when they were young.
He was only four months younger than I am and passed away after a heart attack. Knowing we were almost exactly the same age definitely hit me. It has made me think about my own life, the people Iāve impacted, and what they might someday remember about me.
Do you ever think about what people might say about you when youāre gone? Will they remember something you taught them? The way you encouraged them or believed in them? The laughter you shared? The times you showed up when they needed someone?
The impact we have isnāt always found in massive accomplishments or something the whole world will remember. Sometimes it looks like a line of young football players showing up to honor their coach. It lives in the stories people immediately begin telling when they hear your name. Itās in the people whose lives are different because you listened to them, encouraged them, supported them, or helped them know they mattered.
We may never fully know how deeply weāve affected another person. That doesnāt mean the impact isnāt there.
What do you hope people remember about you and the way you made them feel?
Hit reply and share it with me. Iād love to hear what comes up for you.
This Week on the Pure Possibilities Podcast
Whatās Your Relationship With Your Past?
Weāve all heard that our past doesnāt define our future, but that doesnāt mean it hasnāt shaped us. Our experiences can influence what we believe about ourselves, other people, and what is possible for us.
In this weekās episode, Iām exploring the meaning weāve given our past experiences, the beliefs and protective patterns we may have developed because of them, and whether those beliefs still belong in the life we want to create now.
Your past may help explain why you think, feel, or respond the way you do. It doesnāt have to keep deciding who you are today or what becomes possible moving forward.
New episodes drop every Tuesday at 12:00 a.m. Pacific.
What If Weekly...
What if the opposite is true?
This is kind of a fun card to pull! When youāre faced with a situation or notice a thought leading you down a negative path, what happens if you pause and flip it?
I canāt do this. What if the opposite is true?
This is going to go badly. What if the opposite is true?
Theyāre going to judge me. What if the opposite is true?
This isnāt about pretending the original thought couldnāt be true or forcing yourself to believe something that you donāt. Itās about interrupting the certainty of the story and getting curious about whether another possibility might exist.
What thought could you playfully challenge by asking, āWhat if the opposite is true?ā
Whatās Unfolding...
The Possibility Pauseā¢
When fear, guilt, shoulds, and other peopleās reactions get loud, it can be difficult to hear yourself clearly. The Possibility Pauseā¢ is a guided 10ā15 minute reflection experience that helps you slow down, untangle what may be influencing you, and explore what feels most honest right now.
You donāt have to force yourself to reach a definitive answer. Sometimes clarity is recognizing that you need more information, more time, more support, or one manageable next step.
Listen To Your Body Talkā¢
Your body is communicating with you all the time, but most of us were never taught how to listen. Listen to Your Body Talkā¢ is a deeper live group experience for anyone who knows thereās more available to them but keeps finding themselves pulled back into familiar patterns.
Youāll become more aware of what keeps you feeling stuck, learn to recognize the cues your body is giving you, and build the emotional and nervous system resilience to navigate lifeās ups and downs and keep moving your life forward.
And because personal growth doesnāt have to feel heavy all the time, weāll also make room for curiosity, joy, play, and celebrating the uncomfortable shit youāre finally willing to do. š
If youād like to be the first to receive all the details when enrollment opens, join the waitlist below.
Until next week, pause, notice, reconnect... and remember that the way you show up today may become part of someoneās story for years to come.
Much love,
Shannonš
