Give Their Flowers While They Can Still Receive Them
By Dr. Kathy Amos
There are moments in leadership where a simple realization shifts your entire perspective. As I recently completed another year of the Best of Mississippi Awards and the Mississippi Hall of Fame, I found myself reflecting on something deeper than logistics, planning, or even celebration.
I began to think about the conversations surrounding ticket sales. Some people express concern about the cost of attending events that honor individuals for their impact, leadership, and legacy. At first glance, it may seem like a practical concern. But when I looked deeper, I recognized something greater; a cultural pattern that we rarely question.
We hesitate to invest in people while they are living, but we rarely hesitate when they are gone.
When someone passes, we find a way to show up. We purchase flowers, contribute to meals, buy cards, travel, and even invest in attire for the occasion. We make time. We make space. We make it a priority. And yet, the very same level of support is often questioned when that person is alive and able to experience it.
That realization brought a powerful truth into focus: we have normalized honoring people in death more than we do in life.
But legacy was never meant to be something we only reflect on at the end. Legacy is something that should be affirmed, supported, and celebrated while a person is still here to feel the impact of that honor. When we attend events that recognize leaders, innovators, and community builders, we are not just purchasing a ticket, we are making a decision to invest in purpose, to affirm value, and to contribute to a living legacy.
There is something deeply meaningful about giving people their flowers while they can still receive them. It communicates appreciation, encouragement, and validation in a way that no posthumous tribute ever could.
If we truly want to build stronger communities, we must shift our mindset. We must become intentional about honoring people in real time; supporting their work, celebrating their contributions, and showing up while it still matters most.
Because in the end, the greatest regret is not what we gave. It is what we withheld when we had the opportunity to give it.
Let’s choose to honor now.
