Building Blocks of Legacy
My four-year-old grandson loves to build with his father’s wooden block set at our house. My husband, Gary, and I did not keep many toys from our children's childhood, yet we kept those simple wooden blocks that sparked their imagination to build buildings, towers, and houses and then have the fun of knocking them down. The block set has been the centerpiece of creativity for our grandchildren.
Recently, he departed from his elaborate designs and decided to create a garage for his favorite car and truck. First, he constructed a simple oblong design. Soon, he realized that he would need a foundation to support it. He knocked down his first building and built a second garage with a layer of the block at the bottom for the foundation. He was thinking about how everything fit together and should be constructed.
Gary’s family tradition is rooted in craftsmanship, creativity, and a love of building. Gary is a real estate developer and, before that, an architect. He started working as a carpenter under his father, Fred, a foreman for a small construction company that built houses. Fred apprenticed under his father, who learned carpentry from his father who learned it from his father.
Each generation took pride in its craft. Like stacking blocks, they strove to build something enduring. The simple insight that the garage needs a foundation reflects generations of carpenters standing on that firm foundation that began over one hundred years ago.
Our grandson will develop many talents and interests, and we are delighted to see his vision for his future. The story of these wooden blocks is a metaphor for how legacies are built. Each block relies on the one beneath it for stability, and each generation in our family has built upon the skills, values, and lessons of those who came before.
Gary inherited his father's work ethic, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to excellence. These qualities have shaped how he approaches his work and life today. Our grandson's tiny hands arranging blocks mirror the hands of his great-grandfather, who built homes and taught carpentry. They remind me that what we do today—the skills we pass down and the values we uphold—becomes the groundwork for the future.
Every family has these stories of legacy. They are right before us, waiting for us to connect the dots, dig deeper, and tell the story. Yet they often remain hidden unless we take the time to uncover them. Building with blocks shows how each piece fits into a larger structure. Writing these stories down ensures that these connections are preserved for future generations.
We often focus on accomplishments or material inheritances when we think about legacy. But the true legacy lies in the values, skills, and lessons passed from generation to generation. For our family, building—whether with wooden blocks or real material—symbolizes creativity, resilience, collaboration, and an understanding of how things fit together. These are the blocks upon which our family story is built.
Reflecting on the past can be like building with blocks. You start with one memory one story, and a larger narrative takes shape as you piece them together. What simple moments in your life hold the key to uncovering your family's more profound legacy? What values and skills have been passed down to you, and how are you passing them on?
As my grandson's garage needed a foundation, so do our stories. Writing them down gives them structure and permanence. Take the time to share your family's narrative. Share the small stories that reveal the larger truths. The blocks we stack today will form tomorrow's legacy. Let's ensure it is strong by first discovering that it's our foundation and telling the story.