June 2026

In the midst of death life persists, in the midst of untruth, truth persists, in the midst of darkness light persists.

-Mahatma Gandhi

Life persists …

It has been a very long, painful year, full of sicknesses and deaths in the family. Within the midst of all the losses, I am realizing more and more how life continues even as the dead ceases to exist in our corporeal world. The living continues to live their lives, picking up the pieces after their loss.  However, the dead no longer walks amongst us; they take absolutely nothing with them, not even their bodies.  But for those who believe in the afterlife, perhaps, their spirit/soul may have some form of existence in the non-corporeal world.  

Why do I bring this up?  We all are aging and will eventually face our own end; we cannot take anything with us, except maybe our soul.  But our souls do not need anything corporeal from this world, to the best of my knowledge.  So if we know that our end is inevitable and that we take nothing with us, why do we insist on keeping everything, whether it be our resources, our knowledge, and our skills.  Why don’t we share them while we are here?  I know that living in the predominately poor immigrant families that most of us want to leave our ‘everything’ to their children, even our trauma.  It is hard to think of others when you are barely surviving and what you do have, you want to ensure your children come to possess them.  I understand and respect generational wealth. I absolutely do.

But how much and what can we bestow beyond our wealth?  And to whom - just your children, niblings, and/or to our communities?  It is about our legacy - what, how, and where do we want to make the most impact?  Our children may not use or continue the legacy respectfully; they may waste it.  There is a limit in how we can control the legacy in death.  No amount of legalese can ensure how legacy unfolds.  So why not start our legacy while we are alive?  Why don’t we share and live into our vision while we are breathing and walking on this earth?  Why not mentor?  Why not set up an endowment?  Why not have that conversation now?  Why not plant the seed that would sprout into truth and light when we are gone?

My parents live through me; they have imparted more than their wealth. They have instilled the values that I try to live out everyday; the vision of a much better world in which people help each other; passion for the marginalized in society; love of beauty, goodness, integrity, and truth. I am their legacy because they planted seeds in their children and the larger community.

I want to encourage all of us to live like we matter now, what we do now will grow into a legacy that lives beyond us.  Because once we are gone, we can no longer directly impact the living. So why not leave something more than our bodies in this world? Why not leave the world a little better than when we entered the world?

Sam Joo

CEO and Founder

June 1, 2026