Read: The Moral Bucket List
The drama of our daily grind often overshadows the quiet acts of kindness. But within that daily story lies a hidden script—the eulogy values.
These aren’t the flashy headlines of our resumes, but the fine print of our character, often read aloud only when the curtain falls. It’s a script I learned to appreciate more deeply after the passing of my father-in-law, Dan Loughry, a man whose life was a masterclass in eulogy values.
Dan was a paradox wrapped in an enigma, served with a side of humor. He was the kind of man who could be as loud as a summer thunderstorm yet as shy as the breeze that follows. He played the role of the tough dad, but we all knew his heart was a marshmallow, especially when it came to his family. He was the kind of guy who could make you roll your eyes and laugh at the same time, a talent I believe is grossly underrated.
When Dan passed away, just a month after Shelley and I tied the knot, I realized I had only scratched the surface of knowing him. I was still a greenhorn, navigating through college to adulthood, and Dan was a lighthouse in my foggy journey. His personality was like a beacon—always there, always bright, even if I didn’t always understand its signals.
The true essence of Dan’s eulogy values revealed itself in the days and years following his passing. It’s one thing to know someone loves their family—it’s another to witness the depth of that love in the stories that bubble up in memory’s wake. At his funeral, and in countless moments since, I’ve been struck by the mosaic of lives he touched.
Dan’s life taught me that eulogy values are not about grandiosity but about the quiet, consistent acts of love and kindness. It’s in the way you make people feel, the subtle impact of your presence in their lives. It’s not just about being remembered as a ‘good person’ but about leaving a legacy of warmth, laughter, and love that continues to echo long after you’re gone.
In a world where we’re often chasing the next big thing, Dan’s life was a reminder that the biggest thing might just be the small acts of kindness we scatter like seeds. These seeds, often sown in anonymity, can blossom into forests of goodwill, outliving us and continuing to provide shelter and joy to those we’ve touched.
So, here’s to living a life that’s not just a list of achievements but a living testament to the beauty of eulogy values. A life where our actions speak louder than our words, and our legacy is written in the hearts we’ve touched.
Dan Loughry may have left the stage, but his performance—a symphony of kindness, humor, and love—plays on in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to know him. And that, my friends, is the kind of life that deserves not just a eulogy but a standing ovation.
