I’ve written a few blog posts about the value of writing one’s obituary as a living inventory of how you want to be remembered. The prospect of death can be a miraculous organizing principle for life.

But, in the spirit of wisdom as a form of distilling the truth, I’ve recently pondered whether capturing one’s essence in a phrase is an even better exercise. Think of what words might grace your tombstone. These few words are the proprietary fingerprints of your life.

Here are a few that I might consider for my tombstone:

"Wasn’t here to solve life’s mysteries, but to revel in them."

"To the very end, he asked the dual question: did I love well, and was I well-loved?"

“The consummate alchemist who balanced tenacity and tenderness.”

“Best known (and loved) for the rules he broke rather than the rules he followed.”

“He was really catching on at the end.”

Want to share yours with us? If I get enough good ones, I might devote a blog post to sharing some of them. Note: If you do send any to me or post comments on social media, please know that I might use one of your phrases (and attribute it to you) in a future post.