Living a Life That Speaks Beyond You

This week’s Parsha Chayei Sarah opens with a seeming contradiction: Why call the portion “The Life of Sarah” if it begins with her death?

Because true life isn’t measured by how long we live, but by what continues to live on after us. Sarah’s impact didn’t end when she left this world. Her kindness, faith, and conviction continued through Yitzchak, through Avraham, and ultimately through all who came after her. Her life was defined not by her years, but by her legacy.

We often fall into the trap of believing that if we’re busy, we must be doing something meaningful. And if we’re very busy, that must mean we’re very important. But the real question is: busy with what? Are we filling our days with things that truly matter, or are we simply staying occupied to feel productive? As Jim Rohn wisely said, “Don’t major in minor things.”

Being busy doesn’t necessarily mean being purposeful. We can fill every hour with activity and still feel unfulfilled at the end of the day. The question isn’t how much we’re doing, but whether what we’re doing is moving us toward something meaningful. It’s possible to climb quickly, only to realise the ladder was never resting on the wall that truly matters.

Personal growth begins with clarity — understanding what’s truly important and aligning our time and energy accordingly. What are the things that will truly matter in ten years? What will still matter after I’m gone? What am I building that will last?

When we know the answers, life becomes simpler — not necessarily easier, but clearer. We start saying “no” to the distractions that look urgent but are ultimately meaningless. We start saying “yes” to the quiet, often less glamorous things that build character, deepen relationships, and strengthen faith.

Imagine writing your life story. What would you want included? Would it be more time spent at the office, or more time creating memories with family and helping others? Would the focus be on the hours worked, or on the people you lifted, the love you gave, the values you lived by?

Sarah’s life teaches us that real success is not about possessions or achievements, but about the kind of person we become along the way. It’s not enough to clear a path through the forest unless we know that the path is leading in the right direction. The challenge is not just to move, but to move meaningfully.

Like Sarah, we can live lives that speak beyond us — lives of purpose, of kindness, of faith. Because when our actions are anchored in eternal values, our impact never ends.

If someone were to describe the “life of [your name],” what would they say? And what can you do today to make sure that story is one worth retelling?