What’s your legacy going to be?

When I was younger, I often wondered what people thought about me. I still do sometimes, but not as much. I figure that I am who I am, I do my best each day and go to sleep at night knowing that I accomplished a few good things at work and in life.

I appreciate what I have: a loving wife and family and a solid job with stellar workmates.

When I visited with Lynn Wood and Sandy Frazier on Tuesday, I was beyond impressed at how their parents affected others and enjoyed their lives to the fullest.

Stanley and Joan Kinger died in a car accident on June 16 — and I believe their zest for life and love for others should be ingrained in all of us.

Pastor Dale Sorgen’s sermon at Sunday’s memorial service focused on looking inward, making the most of your life and helping others along the way.

“It really affected a lot of people,” Frazier said. “I was walking Charlie (her dog) and neighbors come out of their house to talk and everyone said that it spoke to them. How many people did they touch? And what impact will they leave?”

Added Wood: “I think it was even more enhanced by the fact that my dad’s personality was to go and help the neighbors. He would fix their pipes and mow their lawn, he built two decks. He was always out in the neighborhood helping the neighbors. So when the pastor gets up, and he didn’t know my dad, (he) was kind of blessed by God. It was just the right thing to say.”

I left their Redmond home questioning how I could improve my life and make a difference.

Frazier said that Stanley said to always be honest, and if you make a mistake, fess up to it.

Wood said he was rarely in a bad mood and always noted that he, “Never had it so good.”

“There’s good and bad in every day,” she added. “I think he just chose to look at the good, no matter what the day was like.”

That’s a perfect place to start — or continue down the road in compiling our legacies.