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Death & what remains

What would you most want to leave your children?

44 answers answered between 2006 and 2026 one of 25 in The Q&A

Originally asked

The Guardian, to a different person each week, The Q&A

Verbatim recurring item in The Guardian Q&A; two publisher-hosted respondent pages establish institutional recurrence.

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On the record

Public figures who have answered a question like this elsewhere. Quoted from the source shown, not written for FLAPSS.

Read by field Everyone Science and medicine 2 Arts and letters 30 Politics and public life 4 Business and finance 3 Technology 2 Sport 2
Read by age Any age In their thirties 6 In their forties 7 In their fifties 9 In their sixties 14 Seventy and beyond 5

1 answer from members

Ali Abbasi builder
I want to leave my children three foundational tools to navigate the world: Life skills: The practical capability and independence to take care of themselves, solve everyday problems, and handle adult responsibilities with ease. Confidence: A self-belief rooted in resilience, knowing they have worth, deserve to take up space, and can handle failure without letting it define them. A sense of humor: The ability to find levity in life's absurdity, laugh at themselves, and keep perspective when things don't go according to plan. If they leave home with these three things, they'll have everything they need to build a meaningful life.

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