Thanksgiving has a way of making us sentimental whether we plan on it or not. You slow down, look around the table, and suddenly realize how much time has already slipped by. Many of us have had someone close to us pass and thought, if I had only asked those questions or if I had only had that one conversation. That regret hits hard. A Legacy Letter is your chance to avoid it. It gives you the space to say what you want to say and let your loved ones know exactly what matters most to you. Some people call them Gratitude Letters, but Legacy Letter is the term I use in my binder and materials, and it fits.

A Legacy Letter is not dramatic. It is not a goodbye. It is you capturing your voice, your humor, your love, and the things your family will hold on to long after the holiday leftovers are gone. And if you think these letters do not matter, let me tell you a story.

A woman once walked into a funeral home carrying a small piece of paper that was worn thin and almost falling apart. She kept it folded in her wallet. The edges were soft and the ink had faded. It was a note her husband had written to her before he passed ten years earlier. She told me she took it out every single day to read it because it made her feel connected to him. That flimsy little sheet of paper was the most valuable thing she owned. Not because it looked pretty, but because it held his words in his voice. That is the power of a Legacy Letter.

You do not need to write a long speech. A paragraph or two does the job. Share what you appreciate, what you hope for them, what you admire, or a story that still makes you laugh. Make it sound like you. That is what they will treasure.

And please do not wait for the perfect moment. It will never show up. Start now while the holidays are creeping in and the year is winding down. Get your letter done before Christmas so you walk into 2026 with less emotional weight and more peace of mind. You deserve that. Your family deserves that.

If you already have a Legacy Binder, tuck the letter inside. It belongs right next to your organized documents because clarity and love work best together. If your paperwork is still in progress, consider this your push. Your family cannot follow your wishes if they do not know them. And they cannot cherish your words if they never get written.

Legacy Letters are simple, meaningful, and they last longer than flowers. They even outlast memories. This is your moment to put something on paper that will matter for the rest of someone’s life.

Disclaimer: This blog is for general education. It is not legal advice, and I am not an attorney. If you need legal guidance, please speak with a licensed Florida attorney.