What's Your Legacy?
Reflections on the stories we leave behind
If you knew Brad Frost, you know how much he wanted to be remembered.
He dreamt of writing a memoir, long before either of us was diagnosed
He planned a 40th birthday “Roast Toast” when he was barely 30.
He spoke regularly about his legacy when we assumed he had decades to shape what that would be.
If you knew Brad Frost, you also know how much a life of meaning meant to him.
You’ve probably sat at a barstool at one of our favorite Detroit dives, sipping an IPA, as Brad encouraged you to go deeper. Maybe you sat on a porch in Boston, brainstorming ways to connect more authentically to who you are. Perhaps you once argued over which was more important - a joyful life or a meaningful one (just me?).
It wasn’t until after his death that I realized he was right. Meaning matters more (although I still stand firm that a joyful life is pretty important too).
Dream mattered to Brad.
Brad and I spent countless hours whiteboarding and dissecting what my own dreams would be. Would I be a writer or a stylist or camp director for an adult day camp?
I had no idea then, that my dream would be directly tied to Brad’s legacy. That my legacy would be directly tied to Brad’s dreams.
I had no idea then that my purpose would be to help other people capture their loved one’s stories.
I’m reaching out today because now I need help with my dreams.
Since Brad died, I’ve taken a project that helped us cope with his diagnosis and grown it into a business that supports others through their grief.
I spend a lot of my time holding space for people’s grief, but equally important, I've spent time holding space for the memories of those we’ve lost.
This is where Book of Stories comes in.
I created the Book of Stories for selfish reasons - simply, I wanted more stories of Brad. But when I put this idea out into the world, I saw how many other people wanted stories of their loved ones too. It’s been a humbling honor to see who people are buying the Book of Stories for:
• The young kids who will grow up without their dad.
• The friend who is getting married without her brother.
• The mom who is in her final days on hospice.
• The hockey legend whose team is still sharing stories, 50 years later.
• The widow who just wants to hear more about her husband.
Each story - from the toasts, to the tributes, to the hilarious inside jokes - brings a person to life on the page. Each story, another acknowledgment that this person LIVED.
After bootstrapping this idea on the side, it's now time for this project to scale so that it can reach more people. In order to do that, an entire custom platform needs to be built to simplify the process both for my team and, more importantly, the customer.
I recently launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to build out the technology it needs.
It’s never easy to ask for help (especially financial help), but I am taking my cue from Brad and screaming into this dream.
I'd be forever grateful for your financial support (every little bit helps!), but if that's not possible, sharing this campaign goes a long way. My goal is not just to raise the money, but to raise awareness that this gift exists - and ultimately, have more excuses to talk about Brad.
If you're interested, below is the link to the crowdfunding page with more information. Thank you for donating, sharing, and supporting me.