Who Tells Your Story: A Reflection on Loss, Legacy, and Living Fully

There’s a line from Hamilton that has stayed with me since I first heard it: “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” It’s a haunting reminder that death is not just an end; it’s a reminder that our time here is finite, and tomorrow is never promised. As someone who has faced the pain of losing loved ones ‘too soon’ — my son Mitch and my brother Jeff—I often find myself thinking about the stories they left behind, the parts of them that still linger, and the lessons they taught me without even realizing it.

Death has a way of pushing us to confront life’s biggest questions. It makes us wonder about the mark we’re leaving, the stories we’re creating, and who will carry them forward when we’re gone. Losing Mitch felt like losing a piece of my heart. He was here, and then he wasn’t, and I was left holding onto the fragments of memories, trying to make sense of a world where he no longer existed. Jeff’s passing, too, reminded me of how fragile and unpredictable life can be, and how important it is to live in a way that honors those we’ve lost.

But as much as death is a thief, it is also a teacher. It has taught me to cherish the people I love fiercely, to speak my truth even when my voice shakes, and to let go of things that no longer serve me. It has shown me that the best way to honor the ones who are gone is to keep telling their stories—and to keep writing my own.

Finding Meaning in the Stories We Leave Behind

The losses I’ve faced have forced me to ask myself: What story am I living right now? What story do I want to leave behind? I’ve realized that I want to be remembered as someone who kept going, even when it hurt, someone who chose love over fear, and resilience over defeat. I want my story to be one of finding strength in the darkest moments, of learning to dance in the rain instead of waiting for the storm to pass.

I know I’m not alone in this. We all have stories we’re living, whether they are filled with joy, pain, triumph, or loss. And we all have stories we’re leaving behind. The question is: What kind of story are you writing with your life right now? Are you living in a way that reflects your values, your dreams, and the person you truly want to be? Are you loving deeply, taking risks, and embracing every moment as if it might be your last?

For Everyone Who’s Lost Someone: A Call to Action

I want to invite you to think about the stories you hold, the people you’ve loved and lost, and the lessons they’ve taught you. I want to hear your stories—because they matter. Share them with me, with the world, with anyone who will listen. Let’s honor the ones we’ve lost by living in a way that would make them proud, by writing stories that reflect the love, the courage, and the resilience that keeps us going.

What story do you want to leave behind? Let’s start a conversation, not just about loss, but about the kind of lives we want to lead, the kind of people we want to be, and the legacies we hope to leave. Tomorrow isn’t promised, but today is ours. Let’s make it count.